DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 61-62W, on Afghanistan peacekeeping operations, how many contacts were recorded between British forces and insurgents in Southern Afghanistan in each month since February 2008.

Des Browne: The number of direct engagements (regardless of the instigator) between ISAF forces and insurgents in Helmand Province per month between 1 February and 13 May 2008, the most recent date for which corroborated information is available, are as follows:
	
		
			  2008  Number of contacts 
			 February 102 
			 March 127 
			 April 90 
			 1-13 May 47 
		
	
	It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, separately to identify attacks exclusively involving British forces given the multinational nature of forces operating in Helmand Province.
	These data are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.

Air Force: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people  (a) applied for and  (b) completed basic training to be a fast jet pilot in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of applications received by armed forces careers offices, specifying pilot as preferred career, the total number of personnel who were selected for basic pilot training (all initially considered as potential fast-jet pilots) and those who were later streamed for fast-jet training, for both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) following the completion of basic training.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 All RAF applications for Pilot 1,676 1,289 1,129 1,159 1,384 
			 Initial Pilot Training (RAF) 167 92 121 133 148 
			 Selected for Fast-Jet Training (RAF) 75 51 46 54 46 
			   
			 All RN applications for Pilot n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Initial Pilot Training (RN) 47 45 35 42 44 
			 Selected for Fast-Jet Training (RN) 7 9 5 9 11 
			   
			 Total number of RAF and RN selected for Initial Pilot Training 214 137 156 175 192 
			 Total number of RAF and RN selected for Fast-Jet Pilot Training 82 60 51 63 57 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	Data has been obtained from the TAFMIS (Training Administration and Financial Management Information System) computer system which was introduced in 2003. Recruitment data prior to 2003 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Children

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what childcare support is provided to the families of service personnel when they are deployed on operations.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1022-23W. Although the publication of the MOD childcare policy is now not expected until later in the summer, further work is continuing in this area in preparation for the Service Personnel Command Paper.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops have not been deployed to frontline duties in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on the number of service personnel who have not been deployed to frontline duties is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

AWE Management: Manpower

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by AWE plc in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by AWE plc in each year since 2003 is shown in the following table. Except for 2003, when different reporting periods were in place, the figures are taken as at the end of March. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		
			   Manpower level 
			 2003(1) 3,430 
			 2004 3,510 
			 2005 3,640 
			 2006 4,040 
			 2007 4,390 
			 2008 4,690 
			 (1 )As at end April.

EU Defence Policy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of providing  (a) military personnel and  (b) civilian staff attached to the (i) European Union military staff, (ii) European Defence Agency, (iii) European Union Military Committee and (iv) other EU institutions in 2007.

Des Browne: The total cost to the Department of the military personnel and MOD civilian staff attached to the European Union Military Staff, European Union Military Committee and other EU institutions was £1.7 million in 2007.
	Military personnel and MOD civilian staff attached to the European Defence Agency (EDA) are paid directly by the EDA from its functioning budget, which covers all of the operating costs of the Agency. The UK's contribution to the EDA's functioning budget was €2.9 million (£2.07 million) in 2007.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: A single food supply contract was let in October 2006, for the supply of food to UK armed forces personnel for "in barracks" feeding in UK and Germany (for personnel not fed under the Pay As You Dine programme) and to UK armed forces personnel serving on operations and some overseas exercises. Other catering arrangements are managed locally by Front Line Commands and other MOD units, and this information is not held centrally.
	Over the last five years, the spend against the single food supply contract has been as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Supplier  Spend (£ million) 
			 2003-04 3663 139 
			 2004-05 3663 128 
			 2005-06 3663 139 
			 2006-07 3663/Purple Foodservice Solutions (PFS) 135 
			 2007-08 PFS 145 
		
	
	These figures represent the total value of commercially supplied food including the cost of food, administration and transport.
	Approximately 65 per cent. of this is sourced from British suppliers. This percentage varies as a result of seasonality, value for money incentives, weather extremes and import/export restrictions. The country of origin of some products is indeterminate because they are manufactured using a number of ingredients, and other products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, are sourced seasonally from a variety of countries. It is not possible to break this figure down for the last five years.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: A new food supply contract was let in October 2006. This contract provides for the supply of food to UK armed forces personnel for "in barracks" feeding in UK and Germany (for personnel not fed under the Pay As You Dine programme) and to UK armed forces personnel serving on operations and some overseas exercises. Through this contract, approximately 65 per cent. of food has been sourced from British suppliers. The remaining 35 per cent. of food is sourced from a number of worldwide countries although these vary through the year due to seasonality, availability or market forces.
	Further detailed information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fulwood Barracks

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit or units will occupy Fulwood Barracks when Five General Service Medical Regiment leaves them.

Bob Ainsworth: Fulwood Barracks is currently home to HQ 42 (North West) Brigade and Five General Service Medical Regiment.
	The restructuring of Five General Service Medical Regiment will result in one Regular Company from both 253 Medical Regiment (V) and 254 Medical Regiment (V) being based at Fulwood Barracks from April 2009.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Harrier,  (b) Tornado and  (c) Typhoon aircraft are (i) in service, (ii) in the forward fleet and (iii) fit for purpose.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of Typhoon, Tornado GR, Tornado F3 and Harrier aircraft that are in service, in the Forward Available Fleet (FAF) and considered Fit For Purpose (FFP) are detailed in the following table. FAF aircraft are those that are available to the front-line command for operational and training purposes; aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are not included. Aircraft defined as FFP are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date; this does not include aircraft undergoing short-term forward maintenance and other minor works. The FAF and FFP figures shown are the average for the financial year to end May 2008, and have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
	
		
			   Number in service as at 31 May 2008  Average number of aircraft in Forward Available Fleet  Average number of aircraft Fit for Purpose 
			 Typhoon 49 35 32 
			 Tornado GR 138 99 69 
			 Tornado F3 76 49 41 
			 Harrier GR7/9 76 50 38 
		
	
	Since the average FFP data was last collated on 31 May 2008, one Harrier aircraft has been lost in an accident. Therefore the total fleet figure for Harrier reduced to 75 as from 16 June 2008.

Military Attaches

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated savings to his Department are from  (a) closing the defence sections in (i) Barbados, (ii) Bulgaria, (iii) Finland, (iv) Portugal and (v) Sri Lanka and  (b) reducing the size of the defence section in India.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no net savings to the MOD from closing the defence sections in Barbados, Bulgaria, Finland, Portugal and Sri Lanka and reducing the size of the defence section in India. The measures contribute towards offsetting the new external costs incurred by the Attaché network referred to by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his written ministerial statement on 5 June 2008,  Official Report, column 71WS.

Military Attaches

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 727W, on military attachés, how many overseas  (a) members of the armed forces and  (b) departmental civilians formed each defence section in each (i) overseas city and (ii) country in each month since September 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of members of the armed forces in each defence section by country and city over the period in question.
	
		
			Number of members of the armed forces( 1)  on first day of month 
			2007  2008 
			  Count r y  City  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun 
			 Afghanistan Kabul 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Albania Tirana 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Closed 
			 Algeria Algiers 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Argentina Buenos Aires 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 
			 Australia Canberra 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Austria Vienna(2) 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 
			 Bahrain Manama 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Bangladesh Dhaka 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Barbados Bridgetown 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Brazil Brasilia 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Bulgaria Sofia 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Canada Ottawa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Chile Santiago 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 China Beijing 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 
			 Colombia Bogota 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Congo, Democratic Republic of Kinshasa 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Croatia Zagreb 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Closed 
			 Cyprus Nicosia 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Czech Republic Prague 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Denmark Copenhagen 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Egypt Cairo 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Ethiopia Addis Ababa 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Finland Helsinki 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 France Paris 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 
			 Georgia Tbilisi 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Germany Berlin 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 
			 Ghana Accra 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Greece Athens 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 
			 Guatemala Guatemala City 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Closed 
			 India New Delhi 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Indonesia Jakarta 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Iraq Baghdad 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Ireland Dublin 2 2 Closed 
			 Israel Tel Aviv 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Italy Rome 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Jamaica Kingston 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Japan Tokyo 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Jordan Amman 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Kazakhstan Astana 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Kenya Nairobi 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Korea Seoul 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 
			 Kuwait Kuwait City 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Lebanon Beirut 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Lithuania Vilnius 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Macedonia Skopje 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Closed 
			 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Morocco Rabat 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Nepal Kathmandu 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Netherlands The Hague 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 New Zealand Wellington 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Nigeria Abuja 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Norway Oslo 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Oman Muscat 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Pakistan Islamabad 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5(3) 5 5 
			 Poland Warsaw 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 
			 Portugal Lisbon 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Qatar Doha 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Romania Bucharest 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Russia Moscow 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 7 7 
			 Saudi Arabia Riyadh 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Serbia Belgrade 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Sierra Leone Freetown 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Singapore Singapore City 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Slovak Republic Bratislava 1 1 Closed 
			 South Africa Pretoria 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Spain Madrid 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 
			 Sri Lanka Colombo 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Sudan Khartoum 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Sweden Stockholm 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Syria Damascus 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Thailand Bangkok 2 2 2 2 2 2 Closed 
			 Turkey Ankara 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Uganda Kampala 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Ukraine Kyiv 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 United States of America Washington 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 
			  UK Mission to UN New York 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Yemen Sana'a 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Zimbabwe Harare 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 (1 )These figures cover all military personnel serving in defence sections, i.e. accredited attachés and military support staff.  (2 )Vienna has been established as a regional hub with three attachés based there covering Austria and another six countries on a non-residential basis—Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovak Republic and Switzerland.  (3 )One military support staff post was replaced with an extra officer in the role of assistant military adviser in April 2008. 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of departmental civilians in each defence section by country and city over the period in question; where there is no entry for a country there have been no departmental civilians in the defence section at any time during the period.
	
		
			Number of departmental civilians at post on first day of month 
			2007  2008 
			  Country  City  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun 
			 Argentina Buenos Aires 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l 1 1 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 l 1 1 
			 Brazil Brasilia 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Canada Ottawa 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Cyprus Nicosia 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Czech Republic Prague 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 
			 France Paris 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 
			 Germany Berlin 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 
			 Greece Athens 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 India New Delhi 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Israel Tel Aviv 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Italy Rome 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Jordan Amman 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Poland Warsaw 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Saudi Arabia Riyadh 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Serbia Belgrade 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Singapore Singapore City 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Slovak Republic Bratislava 1 1 Closed 
			 United States of America Washington 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
		
	
	Over this period changes to the Defence Attaché network have been implemented as stated in the written ministerial statement issued by the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 September 2007. These changes are:
	Defence Sections have been closed in Albania, Croatia, Guatemala, Ireland, Macedonia, Slovakia and Thailand.
	Attaché numbers have been reduced by one in Argentina, Egypt, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Poland, the Russian Federation, Spain and Ukraine.
	A Defence Section has been opened in Kabul, Afghanistan and an additional adviser has been deployed in Islamabad, Pakistan.
	Vienna has been established as a regional hub with three attachés based there covering Austria and another six countries on a non-residential basis: Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.
	Changes to support staff have also been implemented over this period. Types of measure implemented were: deletion of military support staff posts; replacement of military support staff with departmental civilians; replacement of military support staff with locally-employed civilians; deletion of departmental civilian posts; and replacement of departmental civilians with locally-employed civilians.

Monuments: Vandalism

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of vandalism of one of his Department's  (a) war memorials and  (b) listed historic buildings have been reported in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: There are no recorded cases of vandalism of listed or scheduled war memorials on the defence estate in the last 12 months. Records on the causes of repairs to listed historic buildings maintained by the Department are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not have responsibility for the maintenance of public war memorials and therefore does not have any records in respect of vandalism in respect of those memorials.

Shipping: Sales

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which  (a) Royal Navy and  (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been sold to other countries in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships sold on a Government-to-Government basis since 1997 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Date of the contract of sale  Name of ship  Sold to 
			 FY 1997-98 HMS Plover Philippines 
			  HMS Peacock Philippines 
			  HMS Starling Philippines 
			
			 FY 1998-99 HMS Unseen Canada 
			
			 FY 2000-01 HMS Bicester Greece 
			  HMS Orkney Trinidad and Tobago 
			
			 FY 2001-02 HMS Berkeley Greece 
			  HMS Orwell Guyana 
			
			 FY 2002-03 HMS London Romania 
			  HMS Coventry Romania 
			  HMS Shetland Bangladesh 
			  HMS Alderney Bangladesh 
			  HMS Anglesey Bangladesh 
			  HMS Lindisfarne Bangladesh 
			  HMS Guernsey Bangladesh 
			  HMS Sheffield Chile 
			
			 FY 2005-06 HMS Marlborough Chile 
			  HMS Norfolk Chile 
			  HMS Grafton Chile 
			
			 FY 2006-07 HMS Sandown Estonia 
			  HMS Bridport Estonia 
			  HMS Inverness Estonia 
			
			 FY 2007-08 RFA Sir Galahad Brazil

Suez: Navy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 424W, on Suez: Navy, on what basis his Department's historic Royal Navy personnel records are organised.

Derek Twigg: Historic records for Royal Navy ratings and officers are archived on behalf of the Ministry of Defence by TNT Archive Services in Swadlincote, Derbyshire. For ratings, the records consist of a Central Record index card for each individual and for officers, there are individual personnel files.
	For an applicant to receive the Canal Zone clasp, the individual's record must be retrieved from the archive facility and the application assessed to determine whether the required 30 continuous days service, on a vessel that has been assessed as qualifying for the award, was achieved. A record of those who have received the award is held electronically at the Ministry of Defence Medal Office at Innsworth.

Type 45 Destroyers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average annual maintenance cost of one Type 45 Destroyer.

Bob Ainsworth: We have not yet reached the main decision point for the contract to provide in-service support for the Type 45 Destroyers and the associated costs have yet to be fully determined.

Type 45 Destroyers: Procurement

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with his French counterpart before announcing the cancellation of the procurement of the seventh and eighth T45 destroyers.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the French Defence Minister relating to the MOD's decision not to take the option to order the seventh and eighth Type 45 destroyers.

USA: Nuclear Weapons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many US nuclear weapons are maintained at  (a) RAF Lakenheath,  (b) other UK mainland bases and  (c) UK bases overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all US nuclear weapons have been removed from the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: NATO's Strategic Concept (paragraph 63) states that,
	"nuclear forces based in Europe and committed to NATO provide an essential political and military link between the European and the North American members of the Alliance. The Alliance will therefore maintain adequate nuclear forces in Europe."
	It is NATO and UK policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location.

World War Two: Medals

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) veteran badges and  (b) Bevin Boys badges have been issued to people in the North East.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format that identifies how many HM Armed Forces Veterans badges and Bevin Boys Veterans badges have been issued in the North East region and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	Between May 2004 and 2 June 2008, over 594,000 HM Armed Forces Veterans badges have been issued.
	Between March 2008 and 2 June 2008, over 4,000 Bevin Boys Veterans badges have been issued.

DEFENCE

7 Regiment Army Air Corps

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role 7 Regiment Army Air Corps performed during the 2007 floods.

Bob Ainsworth: A Gazelle helicopter was deployed from 7 Regiment Army Air Corps to Gloucester. It undertook liaison, reconnaissance and observation tasks over the flooded areas for the armed forces and supplemented the capabilities of the civil authorities.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) suicide bombings and  (b) improvised explosive device attacks were recorded in Afghanistan in each month since February 2008.  [Official Report, 23 November 2009, Vol. 501, c. 3MC.]

Des Browne: Records of incidents for the whole of Afghanistan are not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Data are more readily available for attacks within Regional Command (South), which includes the majority of UK forces deployed to Afghanistan.
	Between 1 February and 12 June 2008, there were a total of 176 improvised explosive device attacks recorded in RC(S), and 21 suicide or suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. These data are broken down per month as follows:
	
		
			  Month  Total IED attacks (including suicide-borne)  Suicide-borne IED attacks 
			 February 2008 31 4 
			 March 2008 52 1 
			 April 2008 40 8 
			 May 2008 35 4 
			 June 2008 18 4 
		
	
	These figures do not include IED finds with no detonation or IED false alarms. These data are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of vacuum bombs in Afghanistan, including the circumstances under which they are permitted to be deployed; on how many occasions deployment in this theatre has occurred; and how many deaths he estimated have resulted.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 30 June 2008
	 The UK has not procured or deployed any weapon systems designed to deliver effect by means of a vacuum.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of newly deployed troops to Afghanistan have been deployed  (a) to help build up infrastructure and  (b) to train and support Afghan security forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Of the 630 new posts announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 677, some 75 will be engaged in helping to rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure. Around a further 155 will deploy to assist in the training and support of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many M-WMIKS vehicles are in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: We have deployed a significantly improved version of the standard M-WMIK vehicle to Afghanistan, which has been recently renamed Jackal. I am withholding detailed information on the precise number of Jackal vehicles deployed as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what operational purposes Snatch vehicles are being used in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Snatch Land Rovers continue to form an important part of the overall vehicle fleet available to our forces in Afghanistan. Commanders on the ground select the optimum vehicle type for a particular task, weighing up the need for force protection, capacity, mobility, fire power and profile. Snatch will therefore tend to be favoured for tasking in relatively low threat areas for tasks requiring high levels of mobility and a high capacity to transport dismounted troops.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much was spent on purchases of locally produced Afghan food by the armed forces and Government agencies in Afghanistan in the financial years  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08;
	(2)  what proportion of expenditure on food for the armed forces and Government agencies in Afghanistan was spent on locally-produced Afghan food in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(3)  how much was spent on food for  (a) the armed forces and  (b) Government agencies in Afghanistan in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Des Browne: No locally produced Afghan food has been procured for British troops by the MOD food supply contractor during this period. Plans are under way however to commission Afghan farmers to grow produce for supply through the MOD food supply contract.
	Separate figures for the value of food supplied to British forces and Government agencies in Afghanistan who have been fed through the MOD food supply contract are not available; however, the total sums spent over the last three financial years are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2005-06 2.4 
			 2006-07 7.2 
			 2007-08 6.3

Afghanistan: Prisoner Escapes

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people who escaped from Kandahar Prison on 13 June have been recaptured; and how many of these were originally captured by British forces.

Des Browne: Sarpoza Prison is run in its entirety by the Afghan Government, and we have no reason to believe that any of the individuals who escaped originally were captured by UK forces. Operations to recapture escapees from Sarpoza Prison near Kandahar are being led by the Government of Afghanistan, and the Ministry of Defence does not have figures for the total numbers recaptured.

Afghanistan: Prisoner Escapes

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people who escaped from Kandahar Prison on 13 June were originally captured by British forces.

Des Browne: The MOD does not hold detailed records on those individuals being held in Sarpoza Prison near Kandahar either before or after the incident on 13 June, as the prison is run by the Government of Afghanistan. However, we have no reason to believe that any of the individuals who escaped were originally captured by UK forces.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the length of roads  (a) repaired and  (b) constructed by the armed forces directly or under their direction in Helmand province in the last two years.

Des Browne: In the last two years, UK Royal Engineers have repaired, reconstructed or constructed over 40 kilometres of road in Helmand province. This has been achieved by project managing locally employed contractors on behalf of the UK's provincial reconstruction team based in Lashkar Gah.

Africa: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department plans to provide to the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool in 2008-09.

Bob Ainsworth: In April 2008 the Africa and Global Conflict Prevention Pools (the ACPP and GCPP) were merged to form a single combined Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP). The CPP is managed jointly by the Department for International Development (DFID), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its budget is voted on separately by Parliament to support the Government's conflict prevention policy in line with the tri-departmental Public Service Agreement (PSA) on conflict.
	The CPP is divided into six regional and two thematic programmes, including a dedicated Africa Programme, reflecting priorities set by Ministers through NSID(OD) (the Overseas and Defence Ministerial Subcommittee of the National Security, International Relations and Development Committee). The Africa Programme has been set an initial allocation of £62.5 million for financial year 2008-09 from the total CPP budget of £112 million.

Aircraft Carriers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the design of the new aircraft carriers incorporates podded propulsion.

Bob Ainsworth: The design does not incorporate podded propulsion.

Aircraft Carriers: Nuclear Powered Vessels

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order the construction of the new aircraft carriers to be nuclear powered.

Bob Ainsworth: No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 255W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Armed Forces: Childbirth

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many babies were born to  (a) service personnel and  (b) military families based (i) overseas and (ii) in the UK in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Data on the number of babies born to service personnel and military families are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Deployment

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK personnel were deployed on operations on the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by location.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 30 June 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total 15,410 
			 of which:  
			 Afghanistan(2) 7,600 
			 Iraq- 4,300 
			 At sea 1,560 
			 Kosovo 680 
			 Qatar 410 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Oman 280 
			 Kuwait 190 
			 Bahrain 80 
			 Bosnia 10 
			 Other 20 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per country include Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. (2) Figures for Iraq and Afghanistan have been rounded to the nearest 100. Other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding methods used, the total may not equal the sum of the individual locations.

Armed Forces: Electoral Register

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent Defence Analytical Services Agency service voting survey.

Derek Twigg: Yes.

Armed Forces: Fire Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were deployed during the firefighters' strike in 2002 and 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: During the national firefighters' strikes in 2002 and 2003 approximately 19,000 members of the armed forces, drawn from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force were deployed to provide fire cover at the request of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were referred to the Priory Clinic in each year since 2004.

Derek Twigg: In-patient care for service personnel with mental health problems is provided in specialised psychiatric units under a contract with the Priory Group. An interim arrangement was signed with the Priory Group commencing in December 2003. The full contract, whereby the Priory Group became the nominated provider of in-patient mental health provision, commenced on 1 April 2004.
	The data requested, up until 31 March 2008, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Period  Number of patients treated 
			 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 58 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 321 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 351 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 306 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 289

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of single living accommodation units  (a) in the UK and  (b) overseas are in each standard for condition grade.

Derek Twigg: All Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is assessed by Grade for Charge (GfC) rather than Standard for Condition. GfC is an assessment of the chargeable condition of the accommodation, along with other factors such as the size, location and closeness to amenities. As at March 2008, SLA is at thefollowing grade:
	
		
			   UK SLA bed-spaces  Percentage  Overseas SLA bed-spaces  Percentage 
			 Grade 1 34,320 25 2,650 12 
			 Grade 2 19,180 14 1,800 8 
			 Grade 3 21,460 16 4,890 23 
			 Grade 4 62,460 45 11,980 56 
		
	
	This Department accepts that not all SLA is of a standard that our Service personnel deserve and we are addressing this. Since 2003, some 26,000 new or improved bed-spaces have been delivered with a further 30,000 planned by 2013.
	More generally, over the next decade £8.4 billion will be spent on accommodation.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required number,  (b) current actual number,  (c) number fit for purpose and  (d) percentage shortfall is of each pinch point trade in the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The Pinch Point Register is as at Quarter 4 2007-08. Information on the fitness of personnel within each pinch point trade is not routinely held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			  Operational pinch point trades  Liability  Shortfall 
			Number  Percentage 
			 Lt X SM Advanced Warfare Course Qualified 75 7 9 
			 RN Harrier GR7 Instructors 7 4 57 
			 GR7 Harrier Pilots—Lt 35 17 48 
			 Merlin Pilots 112 44 39 
			 Merlin Observers 116 53 46 
			 Merlin Aircrewmen 102 22 22 
			 Leading Hand Warfare 1,108 459 41 
			 Strategic Weapons Systems Junior Ranks 110 26 24 
			 Able Bodied Warfare Specialist (Sensors Submariner) 173 39 23 
			 Able Bodied Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submariner) 121 25 21 
			 Able Bodied Diver 136 41 30 
			 Able Rate 1 Seaman 351 54 15 
			 Able Rate 1 Warfare Specialist 754 181 24 
			 Able Rate 1 Communications and Information Systems 375 48 13 
			 Leading Aircraft Controllers 75 33 44 
			 Royal Marines Other Ranks 6525 522 8 
			 Sea-King and Lynx Avionics Supervisors 348 64 18 
			 Cat A Nuclear Watchkeepers 217 53 24 
			 Petty Officer Mine Warfare 56 15 27 
			 Cat B Nuclear Watchkeepers 417 77 18 
		
	
	
		
			  Army 
			  Operational pinch point trade  Liability  Shortfall 
			Number  Percentage 
			 Infantryman Pte-LCpl 14,615 1,647 11 
			 REME Vehicle Mechanic Pte-Cpl 3,625 493 14 
			 REME Armourer Pte-Cpl 397 80 20 
			 REME Recovery Mechanic LCpl-Cpl 344 128 37 
			 Intelligence Operator—Military Intelligence Cpl-Sgt 690 228 33 
			 RE Clerk of Works SSgt-W01 245 +1 +0.4 
			 RE Mil Engr Fitter Spr-LCpl 466 71 15 
			 RA Gunner LBdr-Bdr 5,048 718 14 
			  Manning Pinch Point Trades
			 AMS ITU Nurse Cpl-Capt 121 86 71 
			 AMS Emergency Medicine Nurse Cpl-Capt 101 63 62 
			 AMS Radiologist Maj 4 3 75 
			 AMS Orthopaedic Surg Maj+ 13 6 46 
			 AMS Gen Surg Maj+ 17 7 41 
			 AMS Anaesthetist Maj+ 49 23 53 
			 AMS Gen Med Prac Capt+ 153 16 10 
			 AMS Radiographer Cpl+ 24 14 58 
			 AMS Registered General Nurse 293 30 10 
			 AMS Operation Department Practitioner Cpl+ 95 13 22 
			 RA Unmanned Ariel Vehicle Operator (Level 4) LBdr-Bdr 280 43 15 
			 RE Mil Engr Geo Spr-W02 82 +11 +13 
			 RE Explosive Ordnance Disposal Cpl-SSgt 115 95 17 
			 RE Mil Engr C3S Spr-LCpl 583 +10 +2 
			 RLC Ammo Tech Cpl-SSgt 285 128 45 
			 RLC Postal and Courier Op Pte-Cpl 433 83 19 
			 RLC Chef Pte-LCpl 1,459 93 6 
			 RSigs IS Engr Cpl-Sgt 237 35 15 
			 AGC(SPS) Mil Admin Pte-Sgt 2,610 308 12 
			 CAMUS Musician 300 69 23 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			  Operational pinch point trades  Liability  Shortfall 
			Number  Percentage 
			  Officers
			 Medical 278 58 21 
			 Operations Support (Intelligence) 233 3 1 
			 Operations Support (Regiment) 267 27 10 
			 Operations Support (Provost/Security) 142 2 1 
			 Operations Support (Flight Operations) 215 25 12 
			 Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service 180 50 28 
			  Manning pinch points
			 Administration (Training) 231 31 13 
			 Chaplains 79 19 24 
			 Medical Support 91 11 14 
			 Operations Support (Fighter Control) 346 46 13 
			 
			  Other ranks operational pinch point trades
			 Weapons System Operator (Air Load Master) 550 100 18 
			 Weapons System Operator (Linguist) 67 17 25 
			 Air Traffic Controller (ATC) / Flight Operations Manager (FOM) / Flight Operations Assistant (FOA) 1,276 76 6 
			 Fire Fighter 553 73 13 
			 Gunner 1,819 189 10 
			 Movements Operator / Controller 879 19 2 
			 RAF Police 1,278 +72 +6 
			 Staff Nurse (Registered General Nurse) 301 21 7 
			  Manning pinch point trades
			 Intelligence Analyst (Communications) 286 46 16 
			 Environmental Health Technician 48 8 17 
			 Radiographer 11 1 9 
			 Mess Manager / Steward 498 38 8 
			 Musician 175 25 14 
			 RAF Physical Training Instructor 517 27 5

Armed Forces: Manpower

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest total manning figures are for  (a) the Territorial Army,  (b) the Royal Naval Reserve,  (c) the Royal Marines Reserves and  (d) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; and how many personnel from each category have been mobilised in total for Operations (i) Herrick and (ii) Telic.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 July 2008
	 The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Latest available manning figures for the volunteer reserves 
			   Number 
			 Royal Naval Reserve 2,103 
			 Royal Marines Reserve 890 
			 Territorial Army (1)30,000 
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1,403 
			 (1 )More accurate data is not currently available for the TA. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of mobilisations( 1)  for operations( 2)  since 2004 (previous figures not available) 
			   Number 
			 Royal Naval Reserve 599 
			 Royal Marines Reserve 384 
			 Territorial Army 9,542 
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force 2,435 
			 (1 )This includes a number of personnel who have been mobilised more than once; more than 2,000 personnel have been mobilised more than once, the vast majority of these being specialists mobilised for periods of three months or less. (2 )It is not always possible to separately identify those mobilised for Op Telic in Iraq, or Op Herrick, in Afghanistan. Once mobilised, Reservists may serve in more than one operational theatre, and many support all operations from bases in the UK and elsewhere.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on the operational allowance during the last six month roulement.

Derek Twigg: The amount spent on operational allowance for the major roulements completed during the last six months in Iraq and Afghanistan was £22,668,886.

Armed Forces: Psychology

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many  (a) uniformed and  (b) civilian unfilled posts there were in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Air Force and (iii) Royal Navy for (1) clinical psychologists, (2) psychiatrists and (3) psychiatric nurses at the most recent date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many  (a) uniformed and  (b) civilian posts in each of the armed forces for (i) clinical psychologists, (ii) psychiatrists and (iii) psychiatric nurses are vacant.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the unfilled vacancies in each of the areas requested, as of April 2008.
	
		
			   Clinical psychologists( 1)  Psychiatrists  Psychiatric nurses 
			 Army — 9 0 
			 RAF — 2 0 
			 RN — 3 2 
			 Civilian 3 0 0 
			 (1) The MOD has assessed that there is no requirement to employ uniformed clinical psychologists.

Armed Forces: Surveys

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the most recent service Continuous Attitude Surveys.

Derek Twigg: The most recent Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey is currently in the process of being finalised and will be placed in the Library of the House and on the MOD Freedom of Information website in due course.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1519W, on armed forces training, what proportion of Operational Training undertaken by all members of the Army prior to deployment to Afghanistan takes place on Fighting in Built-Up Areas facilities.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The use made of these facilities during pre-deployment training depends on the particular Arm and specialist skills of the units in question, the amount of experience they already have of being deployed to built-up environments similar to those that will be encountered on the deployment and the nature of the operational tasks that they will carry out in theatre.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Cougar vehicles delivered to the UK for Mastiff tranche two have been uparmoured; and how many remain to be uparmoured.

Bob Ainsworth: The first vehicles arrived in the UK on 1 July 2008. None have been uparmoured as yet but the intention is that all 174 Cougar vehicles procured for the MASTIFF 2 programme will be.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the reconnaissance variant of the Future Rapid Effects System; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Good progress has been made on the assessment of the reconnaissance family which is one of the specialist vehicle families within the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES). Following the placement of a number of scoping studies with industry at the end of last year, we have recently commenced a specialist vehicle assessment phase to determine the optimum mix of performance, time, cost and risk involved in delivering the specialist vehicle capability. The assessment phase includes the placement of further study contracts with industry.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many M-WMIKS vehicles were ordered in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008; and how many of these (i) have been delivered to Afghanistan and (ii) will be ready for delivery within (A) three months and (B) six months.

Des Browne: A total of 130 and 72 Jackal (M-WMIK) vehicles were ordered in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Delivery of all these vehicles is expected to be complete by the end of 2008. However I am withholding information on the specific numbers delivered to Afghanistan as this could prejudice operational security.

Cadets: Schools

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost was of  (a) setting up and  (b) running a combined cadet force in its first year in a state school as part of his Department's pilot project.

Derek Twigg: The MOD departmental three year pilot trial of six new CCF's, involves the following schools:
	Archers Court maths and technology college, Dover,
	Budmouth technical college, Weymouth,
	Thomas Deacon academy, Peterborough,
	Treorchy comprehensive school, Mid Glamorgan,
	Haberdasher's Federation (Hatcham Knight academy), Lewisham,
	Walker technology college, Newcastle.
	The costs involved in this pilot trial are as follows:
	
		
			  Serial  Item  Costs( 1 ) (£) 
			Start up( 2)  Annual( 3) 
			 1 General equipment, adventure training equipment and stores 16,000 12,500 
			 2 Clothing 8,000 500 
			 3 Rifles and maintenance 16,400 1,000 
			 4 Ammunition 2,500 2,500 
			 5 Paid training days 17,500 17,500 
			 6 Travel and subsistence(4) 2,500 2,500 
			 7 Transport(5) 26,800 5,000 
			 8 Buildings and infrastructure (shared costs)(6) 46,000 1,000 
			 9 Annual CCF grant(7) (covers such things as office equipment, telephones and stationery) 3,700 3,700 
			 10 Total 139,400 46,200 
			 (1 )Costs are based on a 120 cadet contingent (the average size of a state school contingent). (2 )Start-up costs are dependent on existing facilities and resources within a school. The costs shown are therefore a combination of both the direct scaled costs for a 120 cadet contingent and average spend for the six new contingents. (3 )Annual costs relate to a relatively stable contingent. If there is a high turnover of cadet force adult volunteers (the cadet instructors) or cadets costs will increase. (4 )Travel and subsistence costs are those refunded to adult volunteers who attend camps and courses. (5 )Initial transport cost is to procure a dedicated minibus with annual running costs, maintenance and insurance thereafter. (6 )Cost of buildings includes storerooms and office space. Also included are the additional costs to the national infrastructure, where known, such as the Cadet Training Centre and the Cadet Adventurous Training Centre. (7 )Annual CCF Grant is a per capita grant from the MOD to cover miscellaneous contingent costs such as office equipment, telephones and stationery. 
		
	
	Not shown are additional costs of cadet training teams, training infrastructure, service transport when used or support from regular units which are mainly shared resources used by all cadet force units.

Canada: Military Exercises

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military exercises have taken place in  (a) Canada and  (b) Kenya in each of the last five years and (i) how many troops were involved and (ii) what the length of each exercise was.

Bob Ainsworth: In each of the last five years, the British military has conducted exercises in Canada and Kenya as follows:
	
		
			   Number of exercises  Total number of troops involved  Total number of weeks 
			  (a) Canada
			 2004 19 7,982 97 
			 2005 14 3,846 71.5 
			 2006 15 4,345 71 
			 2007 11 3,865 63 
			 2008 7 3,040 27 
			 
			  (b) Kenya
			 2004 12 3,267 73 
			 2005 10 1,847 52 
			 2006 11 2,575 53 
			 2007 11 2,480 53 
			 2008 4 250 16

Central African Republic: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Russian  (a) military helicopters and  (b) civilian contracted helicopters are in use by EUFOR Chad/CAR; and on how many occasions British forces have flown in each.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no Russian military or civilian contracted helicopters currently in use by the EU's military mission to Chad/Central African Republic. Russia has offered tactical transport helicopters to the mission and discussions regarding this offer continue.

Central African Republic: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's share of the approved budget for EUFOR Chad/CAR is; and how much has been paid as of 30th June 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1489W, to the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane).
	The UK has paid £13.9 million as of 30 June 2008.

Cyprus: Air Force

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much fuel has been purchased for the Royal Air Force in Cyprus in each month of the last two years, broken down by price paid per litre.

Bob Ainsworth: Aviation fuel purchased for the Royal Air Force in Cyprus in the last two financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Litres 
			 2006-07  
			 June 2006 11,497,000 
			 August 2006 13,003,000 
			 January 2007 13,029,000 
			   
			 2007-08  
			 May 2007 8,894,000 
			 August 2007 9,987,000 
			 December 2007 13,452,000 
		
	
	The price per litre of aviation fuel is commercially sensitive and its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. However, the average price per litre for financial year 2006-07 was 28p and for financial year 2007-08 was 36p, rounded to the nearest lp.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Derek Twigg: The requested information is not held centrally or in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residential properties his Department owned in  (a) 1983,  (b) 1987,  (c) 1992,  (d) 1997,  (e) 2001 and  (f) 2005; and what the location of such properties was.

Derek Twigg: The number of residential properties owned by this Department in the years specified, together with information on their location, is not available.

Departmental Buildings

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many residential properties owned by his Department in England and Wales were sold to  (a) private developers and  (b) social landlords in each of the last 10 years, broken down by county;
	(2)  how many residential properties his Department has sold in the last two years; what their locations were; to whom such properties were sold; and how much his Department received for each such sale.

Derek Twigg: A list of the Department's residential properties sold in the UK since 2000, broken down by financial year and location, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Records of residential properties sold before 2000 and the purchaser details and sale prices of all properties sold to the present day are not held centrally and could be only provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Consultants

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 1 July 2008
	 Summaries of MOD expenditure on External Assistance, which includes various types of consultancy, are available in the Library of the House for the years 1995-96 to 2006-07.
	The figures for 2007-08 will be placed in the Library before summer recess.

Departmental Homeworking

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Bob Ainsworth: 196 permanent civil servants in the Ministry of Defence are recorded as having their home as their principal place of work. This figure excludes the trading fund agencies. In addition, staff may work from home on an ad hoc basis with the agreement of their managers. Figures for such discretionary arrangements are not held centrally.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Derek Twigg: IT contracts can vary from single computers and software licences to major programmes, such as the Defence Information Infrastructure. To confirm all of the IT contracts MOD has entered into in the last two years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Lane

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all land and properties in London that his Department  (a) rents,  (b) leases and  (c) owns, indicating in each case whether the property is used by (i) the Territorial Army and (ii) other services.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held in the form requested and will take time to collate and verify. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Tom Brake :
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question of 3 December 2007 (Official Report, column 830W) about land and property that the Department rents, leases and owns in London, indicating whether it is used by the Territorial Army (TA) or other Services. I apologise for the time this has taken.
	The table below provides the information requested.
	
		
			  Name  Holding 
			 Army Career and Information Office Wembley Freehold 
			 6-8 Palmer Street Freehold 
			 Horse Guards Whitehall Freehold 
			 Old War Office Westminster Freehold 
			 The Citadel Freehold 
			 Ministry of Defence Main Building Freehold 
			 Woolwich BKS Freehold 
			 Regents Park BKS Freehold 
			 Hyde Park BKS Freehold 
			 Wellington BKS Freehold 
			 Cavalry BKS Hounslow Freehold 
			 Royal Marine School of Music Kneller Hall Freehold 
			 Defence Geographic Centre Feltham Freehold 
			 RAF Kenley Freehold 
			 RAF Uxbridge Freehold 
			 RAF Bentley Priory Freehold 
			 PJHQ Northwood Freehold 
			 48 Hornton Street Freehold 
			 West Ruislip/Blenheim Crescent Freehold 
			 Queen Mary Buildings Westminster Freehold 
			 Victoria House Westminster Freehold 
			 Saram House and Latimer House Kensington Freehold 
			 The Keep Kingston Freehold 
			 Dagenham ACF Freehold 
			 Dagenham ATC Freehold 
			 Barking ACF Hut Freehold 
			 Barking ATC Hut Freehold 
			 Barking ATC Store Freehold 
			 Willesden ACF Hut Freehold 
			 Wembley ACF Building Freehold 
			 Wembley ATC Auxiliary Hut Freehold 
			 Wembley ATC Hut Freehold 
			 Wembley Nissen Hut Rifle Range Freehold 
			 Willesden ATC Hut Leasehold 
			 Cardinal Hinsley College Hiring 
			 Middx and NW London ACF Hiring 
			 Edgware TAC Freehold 
			 Finchley Cadet Centre Freehold 
			 Copthall School Hiring 
			 ACF Copthall School Hiring 
			 Barnet TA Centre Freehold 
			 Barnet ACF Hut Freehold 
			 Hendon ATC Leasehold 
			 New Barnet ATC Leasehold 
			 Christ's College CCF Leasehold 
			 Mill Hill School CCF Leasehold 
			 Queen Elizabeth School CCF Hiring 
			 Bexleyheath TAC Freehold 
			 Foxhouse Road Belvedere ACF Hut Leasehold 
			 Crayford ACF Freehold 
			 Sidcup ACF Freehold 
			 Erith ACF Freehold 
			 Erith ATC Leasehold 
			 Erith ATC Hut Leasehold 
			 Welling ATC Hut Leasehold 
			 Orpington TAC Hiring 
			 Orpington ACF Freehold 
			 Orpington Nissen Hut Freehold 
			 Charles Darwin School ACF Hiring 
			 Penge ACF Freehold 
			 The Ravensbourne School Hiring 
			 Bromley ATC Leasehold 
			 Langley Park ATC Leasehold 
			 Penge ATC Leasehold 
			 Penge Nissen Range Leasehold 
			 Penge MT Garage Freehold 
			 Lincolns Inn TAC Leasehold 
			 Hampstead TAC Freehold 
			 Bloomsbury TAC Leasehold 
			 Mitcham Road TAC Freehold 
			 Croydon Reme Workshops Freehold 
			 Croydon TAC Freehold 
			 Croydon College ACF Hiring 
			 Marlpit Lane TAC — 
			 Kenley Airfield ATC Freehold 
			 Waddon Youth Centre ACF Hiring 
			 Kenley Airfield Enclave ATC Freehold 
			 The Vale ATC/ACF Leasehold 
			 Mitcham ATC Leasehold 
			 St. Joseph's College ACF Hiring 
			 Royal Russell School CCF Leasehold 
			 Trinity School CCF Hiring 
			 Whitgift School CCF Hiring 
			 Croydon ACF Leasehold 
			 Elmbridge ACF Freehold 
			 Reeds School CCF Free Use 
			 Winchmore Hill ATC Hiring 
			 Edmonton ATC Leasehold 
			 Aylward ATC Freehold 
			 Southgate School ATC Leasehold 
			 St. Ignatius College CCF Leasehold 
			 Mercator House Freehold 
			 Epsom ACF Freehold 
			 Stephen Woods Centre (ACF Centre) Hiring 
			 Ealing Cadet Centre Freehold 
			 Acton TAC Freehold 
			 Northolt High School CCF Free Use 
			 St. Benedict's School CCF Leasehold 
			 Squirrels Lane ATC Leasehold 
			 Crown Woods School ACF Leasehold 
			 Charlton ACF Freehold 
			 Eltham ACF Freehold 
			 Colfe's School CCF Leasehold 
			 Honeypot Lane TAC Freehold 
			 Elmgrove Road ACF Freehold 
			 Harrow ATC Freehold 
			 Harrow School CCF Freehold 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's School CCF Leasehold 
			 Hornsey TAC Freehold 
			 Tottenham ACF Freehold 
			 St. Aloysius College ACF Leasehold 
			 Highgate School CCF Hiring 
			 Highgate Old Guard House Freehold 
			 Northwood Girls College ATC Free Use 
			 Uxbridge TAC Freehold 
			 Worship Street TAC Freehold 
			 Dalston ACF Freehold 
			 Stoke Newington Joint Cadet Centre Freehold 
			 City of London School CCF Hiring 
			 Islington ATC Leasehold 
			 Hammersmith Road WETC includes ACF/ATC Freehold 
			 White City Road TAC Freehold 
			 Fulham TAC Freehold 
			 Protheroe Road Leasehold 
			 Rylston Road TAC Leasehold 
			 London Oratory School CCF Leasehold 
			 Heston ATC/ACF Centre Freehold 
			 Feltham ACF Freehold 
			 Chiswick ACF Freehold 
			 Hounslow ACF Freehold 
			 Romford TAC Freehold 
			 Brittons School ACF Hiring 
			 Campion School ATC Leasehold 
			 Campion School ACF, Centre Licence 
			 Elm Park ATC Leasehold 
			 Upminster Joint Cadet Centre Leasehold 
			 TAC Islington Freehold 
			 Finsbury Barracks TAC Leasehold 
			 Kensington TAC Freehold 
			 Iverna Gardens Freehold 
			 Kingston upon Thames TAC Freehold 
			 Kingston Grammar School Leasehold 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames ATC Leasehold 
			 Tolworth ATC Leasehold 
			 Hinchley Wood ATC Leasehold 
			 Camberwell TAC Freehold 
			 Clapham TAC Freehold 
			 Brixton TAC Freehold 
			 Camberwell ATC Leasehold 
			 ACIO Blackheath, 9 Lee Road Leasehold 
			 Blackheath TAC Freehold 
			 Grove Park TAC Freehold 
			 Catford TAC Freehold 
			 Northbrook Church of England School Hiring 
			 Catford ACF Freehold 
			 St. Dunstan's College CCF Leasehold 
			 Sutton TAC Freehold 
			 Merton College ACF Hiring 
			 Raynes Park High School ATC Leasehold 
			 Merton Road ATC Leasehold 
			 Merton ACF Freehold 
			 Kings College School CCF Hiring 
			 Morden ATC Leasehold 
			 Rutlish School CCF Leasehold 
			 The Cedars TAC Leasehold 
			 East Ham TAC Freehold 
			 East Ham Tri Service Cadet Centre Freehold 
			 East Ham Utilities Freehold 
			 East Ham Infrastructure Freehold 
			 Royal Alexandria/Albert School Hiring 
			 Reigate Grammar School CCF Leasehold 
			 Ilford TAC Freehold 
			 Hainault ACF Freehold 
			 Ilford Joint Cadet Centre Freehold 
			 Bancroft's School CCF Leasehold 
			 ACIO Ilford Leasehold 
			 ACF/ATC Combined Cadet Centre Leasehold 
			 ACF/ATC Building Leasehold 
			 Twickenham ACF Freehold 
			 Richmond ATC Leasehold 
			 Twickenham ATC Leasehold 
			 Hampton School CCF Hiring 
			 Egham ATC Leasehold 
			 Sunbury ATC Leasehold 
			 Wyatt Road ACF Centre Leasehold 
			 Sutton ACF Leasehold 
			 Carew Manor School ATC (not part of school) Leasehold 
			 Stanley Park High School ACF Hiring 
			 Sutton Grammar School CCF Leasehold 
			 Wallington ACF Freehold 
			 Sutton ATC Leasehold 
			 Wilsons Grammar School Freehold 
			 Walworth TAC Freehold 
			 The Academy at Peckham Hiring 
			 Alleyn's School CCF Free Use 
			 Dulwich College CCF Leasehold 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Federation School Hiring 
			 Highwood Barracks TAC Freehold 
			 Royal Marines HQ (Highwood Barracks) Leasehold 
			 Caterham School CCF Leasehold 
			 Mile End Road TAC Freehold 
			 Mile End Road Infrastructure Leasehold 
			 Bethnal Green ACF Freehold 
			 HMS Wildfire Freehold 
			 Merchant Taylors School CCF Hiring 
			 Battersea ATC Freehold 
			 Merton Road TAC Freehold 
			 Balham TAC Freehold 
			 St. John's Hill TAC Freehold 
			 Lytton Grove ACF Freehold 
			 Buckhold Road ACF Freehold 
			 Barnes ATC Leasehold 
			 Davies Street TAC Leasehold 
			 Rochester Row Freehold 
			 Horseferry Road TAC Leasehold 
			 Westminster City School Hiring 
			 Torquay Street ATC Freehold 
			 Whipps Cross TAC Freehold 
			 Pretoria Road ATC Leasehold 
			 Walthamstow Academy Hiring 
			 Forest School CCF Hiring 
			 Lower Site Green Hill ATC Freehold 
			 Eton College CCF Hiring 
			  Note: Army Cadet Force—ACF Army Career Information Office—ACIO Air Training Corps—ATC Combined Cadet Force—CCF Territorial Army Centre—TAC

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be only provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: In each of the last three years there has been no expenditure on new works of art by the MOD. It is not possible to separately identify the costs of new vehicles from the overall leasing costs of non-operational vehicles operated by the Department. For new furnishings the expenditure in each year is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  New furnishings 
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 27 
			 2006-07 24.7 
			 2007-08 18.7 
		
	
	These costs represent only the cost of new furniture purchased including office furniture, furniture for messes and barracks, service families accommodation and Ships; other furnishing costs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The retirement age for senior civil servants is decided centrally and is set at age 65. Determination of the retirement age for grades below the senior civil service is delegated to employing Departments and was set by the Ministry of Defence at 65 with effect from 1 April 2006. Departmental regulations reflect the right to request to work beyond the normal retirement age and for such requests to be given proper consideration. UK Defence statistics include detailed breakdowns of the civilian workforce. These show that, against a reducing overall headcount, the numbers of MOD civil servants aged 65 and over have increased as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1 April 2005 150 
			 1 April 2006 160 
			 1 April 2007 290 
			 1 April 2008 490 
		
	
	Published statistics prior to this date do not contain sufficient age-related detail to give comparable figures and the necessary retrospective research would involve disproportionate cost.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department last updated its euro changeover plan (now known as the euro implementation strategy) on 24 October 2005. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Gazelle Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the future of 7 Regiment Army Air Corps;
	(2)  what the out of service date for the Army Air Corps Gazelle is; and what its replacement is to be.

Bob Ainsworth: Future Gazelle flying activity has been reviewed in successive departmental planning rounds. Under current planning assumptions the out of service date for the Gazelle is 2012; however there will be a significant reduction in Gazelle flying by 2010. The Gazelle is an older aircraft type with limited capability and is not deployed on combat roles. This decision will therefore have no impact on deployed military capability. Where there is an enduring requirement for the capability currently provided by Gazelle we are exploring arrangements based on leased aircraft.
	The decision to bring forward the Gazelle out of service date will lead to the disbandment of 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers) (7 Regt AAC(V)) by 1 April 2009. 7 Regt AAC(V) is currently based at Netheravon with a flight each at Shawbury and leuchars. All affected personnel have been informed of the decision.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Saxon armoured personnel carriers are deployed on operations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: There are no Saxon armoured personnel carriers currently deployed in Iraq. I am withholding detailed information on the number of Saxon vehicles deployed in Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Lynx Helicopters: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the then permanent under- secretary at his Department was in taking the decision not to use a competitive process for the contract to meet the battlefield reconnaissance helicopter requirement.

Bob Ainsworth: The decision to use a non-competitive process for the procurement of the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter requirement was taken by Ministers on the basis of advice from the Department's Equipment Approvals Committee. The then permanent under-secretary did not sit on that committee.

Martyn Compton

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary's reply to the Adjournment debate in Westminster Hall, of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 91-6WH, on Lance Corporal Compton (Compensation), if he will make a statement on  (a) the compensation and  (b) the pension payable to Lance Corporal Compton.

Derek Twigg: It would not be appropriate to comment on an individual case.

Medals

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many administrative errors in the allocation of medals were made in each year since 2003.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held centrally, and could be only provided at disproportionate cost.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Mi-17 helicopters were in use in the armed forces at the latest date for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: No Mi-17 helicopters are in use in the British armed forces.

Military Aircraft: Low Flying

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees in his Department deal with complaints from members of the public concerning noise from low-flying military aircraft.

Derek Twigg: There is a dedicated team of four people in MOD Headquarters (the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit) who deal specifically with complaints about military low flying. In addition, there are three regional community relations officers (for Wales, Cumbria and Tynedale, and Southern Scotland), each of whom has an assistant, appointed to provide a point of contact in areas which see relatively high levels of military low flying, but where there is no active military flying unit. However, all military establishments will have mechanisms in place to receive and record complaints about low flying, to be passed on to the Complaints and Enquiries Unit for answer.

Military Aircraft: Low Flying

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received from residents of Angus constituency concerning low-flying military aircraft in each of the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: Complaints have been recorded from residents of the Angus constituency over the last 12 months as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 July 2007 3 
			 August 2007 2 
			 September 2007 3 
			 October 2007 1 
			 November 2007 1 
			 December 2007 0 
			 January 2008 0 
			 February 2008 0 
			 March 2008 0 
			 April 2008 0 
			 May 2008 1 
			 June 2008 1

Military Aircraft: Low Flying

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence during which hours military jets are authorised to undertake low-flying exercises over Angus constituency.

Derek Twigg: Angus is within Low Flying Area 14, part of the UK Military Low Flying System, which covers all of Scotland north of the Forth-Clyde region. The UK Military Low Flying system is open for use by fast jet aircraft from 0700 to 2300 local time Monday to Friday. The system is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and UK public and Bank Holidays. The system in Scotland is additionally closed on Scottish Bank Holidays. Unless specifically authorised for major training events or urgent pre-operational training, fast-jet low flying is not permitted outside the core times given above.

Military Aircraft: Low Flying

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions military jets have taken part in low-flying exercises over Angus constituency in the last year.

Derek Twigg: We do not hold the information in the form requested. Low flying is recorded in terms of the number of hours flown rather than the number of sorties, broken down by fixed or rotary winged aircraft rather than fast jets specifically; and the information is held for the low flying area in which the activity is booked. The Angus constituency lies within Low Flying Area 14, which covers the whole of Scotland north of the Forth-Clyde region. In 2006-2007, the last year for which the figures have been published, there were 4,372 hours flown by fixed winged aircraft in Low Flying Area 14.

Military Aircraft: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the requirement for trained pilots for all three services has been in each year since 1997; and how many trained pilots entered the services in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the requirement for trained pilots for the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm and the Army for each year since 2001 and how many trained pilots entered service in each year. Data prior to 2001 are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Service  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  205-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Fleet air arm
			 Pilot requirement 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 
			 Trained pilots entering service 28 41 32 44 31 20 28 
			  Army
			 Pilot requirement 76 56 56 61 61 50 55 
			 Trained pilots entering service 41 46 43 41 50 46 45 
			  RAF
			 Pilot requirement 138 145 148 152 129 130 126 
			 Trained pilots entering service 120 150 130 140 120 134 128

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence in London does not purchase the  Morning Star publication.
	MOD units outside London may purchase newspapers under local arrangements. Information on expenditure under such local arrangements is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Submarines: Accidents

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether nuclear submarine accident procedures required by his Department are standardised for all ports at which such submarines which have been involved in an accident may berth.

Bob Ainsworth: Onboard procedures are standardised by submarine class and are generic to any location.
	Emergency plans for submarine berths are not standardised but are developed, owned and maintained by the locally responsible authority. Where UK legislation is not directly applicable the MOD policy is, as far as possible, to apply UK standards.

Nuclear Weapons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that UK nuclear weapons are not susceptible to popcorning, with particular regard to  (a) their resistance to multiple simultaneous impacts and  (b) replacing the explosive currently used to surround the plutonium cores; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The safety of any nuclear warhead is of paramount importance in authorising its inclusion in the UK stockpile. I am satisfied with the safety of the current UK stockpile, which is reviewed continually to ensure acceptable levels of safety are maintained.
	For the purpose of safeguarding national security, I am not prepared to comment further on particular aspects of nuclear warhead design.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the highest 10 payments made by his Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Derek Twigg: Details of the highest 10 payments in settlement of personal injury claims can be found in the Ministry of Defence's Claims Annual Report 2006-07 copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The 2007-08 report is scheduled to be published later this month and once again a copy will be placed in the Library. Records as to whether a claim was contested or uncontested are not kept.

Territorial Army: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel have been mobilised for three or more tours of duty.

Bob Ainsworth: Available figures indicate that around 360 members of the Territorial Army have been mobilised three or more times since 1999. Given the safeguards built in to the Reserve Forces Act 1996, which limits the time for which reservists may be mobilised, it is very likely that the majority of these soldiers were mobilised for periods of less than the normal operational tour of six months. It is common for medical reservists to be mobilised for operational tours of three months or less, enabling them to be mobilised several times without exceeding the limits placed in the Reserve Forces Act.

Veterans Day

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for grants for the 2008 Veterans Day celebrations have been received.

Derek Twigg: By 31 May, the closing date for applications for funding for 2008 Veterans Day celebrations, a total of 121 applications had been received. We know that a number of other events are taking place which have not applied for funding.
	This year we encouraged organisers planning small scale events to team up to produce more substantial celebrations. The total value of grants awarded has increased.

War Graves: Vandalism

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of vandalism to a war graves site in the UK have been reported in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) confirms there have been two reported cases of major vandalism and 14 minor cases at their sites in the UK, in the past 12 months.

TRANSPORT

A453: Repairs and Maintenance

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will begin on upgrading into a dual carriageway the A453 road between Kegworth in Leicestershire and Clifton in Nottinghamshire; and when the work will be completed.

Tom Harris: Subject to the satisfactory completion of all statutory procedures, funding being available within the east midlands regional funding allocation for major transport schemes and compliance with the Department's scheme appraisal requirements, construction works on the A453 widening scheme are planned to begin in spring 2010 and to be completed during the winter of 2012-13.

Bus Services: Concessions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of local authorities in England do not make concessionary bus travel freely available before 9.30 am; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are responsible for the statutory minimum concession. This guarantees free local bus travel throughout England for elderly and disabled people at weekends and from 9.30 am to 11 pm on weekdays. Local authorities are free to offer enhancements to this concession, such as earlier start times, taking into account local needs and overall financial priorities. However, as these enhancements are at local discretion no information is held on them centrally.

Chester Railway Station: Parking

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with  (a) Network Rail,  (b) Chester City Council and  (c) the relevant train operating companies on the provision of car parking spaces at Chester station; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Officials have met with both Network Rail and Virgin Trains on a number of occasions to discuss the expansion of car parking capacity along the west coast main line, including Chester station. The most recent of these was on 20 June 2008 in Manchester. As a result, Network Rail is now working on the detailed design of a new car park adjacent to Chester station and in turn is in dialogue with Chester city council on planning and highway related issues.
	The Department for Transport has been in correspondence with the city council to emphasise the importance of more parking accommodation at this station, as a means of accessing the improved London express service planned for introduction in December this year.

Co-operative Wholesale Society

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates meetings have been held between Ministers and officials from her Department and representatives of the Co-operative Wholesale Society since 1 May 2005 on the development of the Co-operative Wholesale Society's land within Harborough District; where each meeting took place; and who attended each.

Rosie Winterton: There have been no meetings since 1 May 2005 between Ministers of this Department and representatives of the Co-operative Wholesale Society about the development of the society's land within Harborough district.
	Officials of this Department have met representatives of the Co-operative Wholesale Society on six occasions since 1 May 2005:
	16 April 2007 at County Hall, Leicestershire
	7 January 2008 at County Hall, Leicestershire
	12 February 2008 at Department for Transport, Great Minster House, London
	15 May 2008 at County Hall, Leicestershire
	22 May 2008 at the offices of White Young Green, Leicester and
	17 June 2008 at the offices of White Young Green, Leicester.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list the conferences hosted by her Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table lists the conferences hosted by the Department in each of the last two financial years.
	
		
			  Date  Title  Cost (£) 
			 2006-07 European Marine Accidents Investigators' Forum 4,170 
			 2006-07 Local Operations Annual Strategy Conference 31,032 
			 2006-07 ANPR Conference 966 
			 2006-07 Management Conference 98,500 
			 2006-07 Management Conference 98,500 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 6,919 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 21,437 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 27,104 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 14,014 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 9,402 
			 2006-07 Business Customer Conference 15,703 
			 2006-07 Major Projects Conference 2006 21,464 
			 2006-07 HSE inspectors/HA Project Sponsors' Event 5,000 
			 2006-07 National Conference 72,923 
			 2006-07 Other conferences(1) 71,449 
			 2006-07 Management Conference 4,946 
			 2006-07 Senior Managers Conference 37,000 
			 2007-08 Business Development Advisory Conference 10,928 
			 2007-08 Local Operations Annual Strategy Conference 49,861 
			 2007-08 Learning and Development Conference 7,803 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 39,527 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 42,046 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 40,086 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 41,779 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 126,233 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 48,238 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 21,916 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 17,846 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 15,505 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 20,220 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 22,179 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 32,820 
			 2007-08 Business Customer Conference 20,670 
			 2007-08 INSPIRE Conference 2,000 
			 2007-08 Historic Landscape Conference 6,000 
			 2007-08 Sustainable Development and Climate Change 3,000 
			 2007-08 Smarter Business Transport Stakeholder 6,000 
			 2007-08 Major Projects Conference 2007 23,118 
			 2007-08 Other conferences(1) 75,116 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 100,568 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 2,295.00 
			 2007-08 Management Conference 3,075.00 
			 2007-08 Senior Managers Conference 65,000 
			 (1) These figures are held under only a single accounting code and obtaining the requested data would incur disproportionate costs. 
		
	
	Information on conferences organised by business units based at our London headquarters buildings are not centrally recorded and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by her Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The requested information is not centrally recorded and a departmental response could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, at our main London headquarters building the requested information is as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Percentage  Spend (£) 
			 Britain 70 211,400 
			 Spain 12 36,240 
			 France 8 24,160 
			 Netherlands 6 18,120 
			 Italy 4 12,080

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost to her Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The average cost of employing a press officer in 2007-08 across the central Department and the Executive agencies is estimated to be £46,800 in payroll-related costs.
	Press officer activities in most agencies are not carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose. Estimates of full-time equivalent staff numbers and corresponding cost have been used where they can be identified.
	For the central Department, overtime and allowance costs are included which are attributable in large part to the out of hours duty press officer service.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in her Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department of Transport comprises a central Department plus seven Executive agencies each with its own pay and reward system. Information regarding hourly rates has been collected from the central Department and all seven agencies. The data have been split between London and national pay rates, as shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  London 
			  £ 
			   Permanent  Temporary 
			   Lowest  Highest  Lowest  Highest 
			 PB1 8.23 10.63 7.09 9.75 
			 PB2 9.21 12.37 7.71 11.72 
			 PB3 11.78 14.73 9.58 9.58 
			 PB4 13.30 17.73 10.82 10.82 
			 PB5 17.20 21.57 14.55 14.55 
			 PB6 23.23 26.93 n/a n/a 
			 PB7 26.76 31.96 n/a n/a 
			 SCSPB1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SCSPB2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SCSPB3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  National 
			  £ 
			   Permanent  Temporary 
			   Lowest  Highest  Lowest  Highest 
			 PB1 6.78 8.33 6.38 7.40 
			 PB2 8.13 10.10 7.88 9.05 
			 PB3 10.37 12.46 9.84 11.86 
			 PB4 12.66 17.37 11.98 14.64 
			 PB5 15.42 21.63 15.06 19.49 
			 PB6 19.31 28.23 19.42 19.42 
			 PB7 24.16 35.62 24.57 24.57 
			 SCSPB1 38.81 38.81 n/a n/a 
			 SCSPB2 55.72 55.72 n/a n/a 
			 SCSPB3 68.20 68.20 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Performance management reviews are in progress and applicable pay awards and bonuses will be finalised by September 2008.

Departmental Planning Applications

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications her Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies have submitted the following planning and licensing applications in the last 24 months.
	
		
			   Planning applications 
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Nil 
			   
			 DFT Central Nil 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) The DSA has submitted 19 planning applications in respect of Multi-Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) at the following locations: 
			  Ayr, Burton, Colwick (Nottingham), Dundee, Fareham—Daedulus, Guildford, Haverfordwest, Kings Lynn (x2), Leicester, Cardington (x2), Swansea (x2), Taunton, Upminster, Greenham Common (Reading/Newbury), Farnborough, Burgess Hill 
			  Managing agents have submitted seven planning applications in respect of other driving test centres on behalf of DSA since April 2007 at the following locations: 
			  Portsmouth (Liddiard Gardens), Sutton in Ashfield, Belvedere, Bletchley, Redhill, Sheffield (Handsworth), Ellesmere Port 
			  Information prior to this date can be obtained only at disproportionate costs due to a change in agents 
			   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Nil 
			   
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) The GCDA has submitted one planning application in respect of a scanning facility in external parts of its London HQ premises 
			   
			 Highways Agency (HA) Information is not held centrally and can, therefore, be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			   
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) The MCA has submitted 15 planning applications at the following locations: 
			  Bangor, Northern Island (outline planning application), Portrush, Northern Island (outline planning application), Tarbert, Argyle, Scotland (building extension), Cruden Bay, Scotland (new build), St. Boniface Radio Site (radio installation on new mast), MCA HQ, Southampton (generator installation), Whitstable, Kent (window replacement—conservation area), Weston-Super-Mare (building extension), Bideford (fitting out works—grade II listed building), Swanage (new build), Mortehoe (demolition of existing public toilets and new build), Broadhaven (building extension), Bembridge, Isle of Wight (building extension), Folkestone (fitting out works), Poole (refurbishment—grade II listed building) 
			   
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) VOSA has submitted 14 planning applications at the following locations 
			  Newcastle (redesign/modernisation of Goods Vehicle Testing Station—GVTS), Bristol (new GVTS), Chelmsford (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Shrewsbury (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Switch Island (upgrade of site and installation of portakabin), South Molton (installation of portakabin), Abingdon (installation of portakabin), Belvedere (construction of additional garage space), Beverley (construction of office extension), Leatherhead (upgrade of site and installation of portakabin), Tormarton (installation of portakabin), Mitcham (installation of portakabin), Carlisle (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Immingham (change of use to enforcement site and installation of portakabin) 
		
	
	
		
			   Licensing applications 
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Nil 
			   
			 DFT Central Nil 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) DSA submitted four applications for music licences to cover the driving test centres, which play music in the waiting rooms. Licences with both Phonographic Performance Ltd. and Performing Rights Society are obtained each year 
			   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) DVLA's Development Centre holds a premises licence (No: SJ022299) under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the supply of alcohol from the premises. An annual licence fee is paid to the city and county of Swansea council 
			   
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Nil 
			   
			 Highways Agency (HA) Information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			   
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Nil 
			   
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) Nil

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies in the last 24 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport includes seven agencies, a shared service centre and the central Department, with a total staff of over 19,000.
	For the central Department the number of staff passes recorded as replaced in the last 24 months is 879. The records kept do not distinguish between cards replaced due to loss or theft and those replaced for other reasons. Lost or stolen passes are estimated to account for approximately 45 per cent. of all replacement passes issued.
	For the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency the number of staff passes recorded as lost or stolen in the last 24 months is 195. This figure includes staff passes for the DfT Shared Service Centre.
	For the Highways Agency the number of staff passes recorded as lost or stolen in the last 24 months is 139.
	For the Government Car and Despatch Agency the number of staff passes reported as lost or stolen in the last 24 months is 11.
	The Vehicle Certification Agency have recorded that no staff passes were lost or stolen in the last 24 months.
	The Vehicle Operator Services Agency, the Driving Standards Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency do not centrally record the number of staff passes reported as lost or stolen as cases are dealt with individually and not recorded in an aggregated form. To collect this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long on average her Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested by the hon. Member is contained in the following table.
	
		
			   2004-2005  2005-2006  2006-2007 
			 Number of named day PQs 233 1,085 700 
			 Average number of working days 2.8 3.2 2.5 
			 Number of ordinary written PQs 907 4,548 2,471 
			 Average number of working days 4.1 4.9 4.0

Driving Tests: Facilities

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much she has allocated to building the new multi-purpose driving test centres in  (a) Kettering and  (b) England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The multi-purpose test centre (MPTC) in Kettering is being built by a private developer. Driving Standards Agency has a capital commitment of £157,000 net for construction and fees.
	The capital funding for the MPTC project in England, Scotland and Wales is £71,000,000. Approximately £55,900,000 has been allocated to England. These figures are indicative based on forecasts and estimates and may change before the end of the project.

Driving Tests: Facilities

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the net cost of the re-organisation of driving test centres in  (a) Wellingborough,  (b) Northamptonshire and  (c) England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency estimates the net costs of reorganisation as follows:
	
		
			£ 
			  (a) Wellingborough 5,000 
			  (b) Northamptonshire 10,000 
			  (c) England 350,000

Driving Tests: Facilities

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new multi-purpose driving test centres are being built; and what the location of each such centre is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: 16 multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs) are under construction and completion is expected by 29 September 2008. Four MPTCs are under construction and completion is expected after 29 September 2008. We are seeking to acquire sites for a further 23 MPTCs. 23MPTCs are already completed.
	Details of the locations are as follows:
	 MPTCs under construction and completion expected by 29 September 2008
	Swindon;
	Lincoln;
	Inverness;
	Cambridge;
	Chester;
	Crawley;
	Norwich;
	Swansea;
	Wellingborough;
	Guildford;
	Bangor;
	Basildon;
	Fareham;
	Herne Bay;
	Carlisle;
	Bristol.
	 MPTCs under construction and completion expected after 29 September 2008
	Blackburn;
	Greater Manchester North;
	Aberdeen;
	Plymouth.
	 Areas where suitable MPTC sites are in course of acquisition
	Wick;
	Ayr;
	Keighley;
	Maidstone-Gillingham;
	Stoke;
	Dumfries;
	Taunton;
	Newbury;
	Uxbridge;
	Redruth;
	Stockport;
	Wolverhampton.
	 Areas with no options for permanent MPTCs
	Aylesbury;
	Bathgate;
	Bournemouth;
	Croydon;
	Dundee;
	Eastbourne;
	Haverfordwest;
	Leeds;
	Lerwick;
	Oban;
	York.
	 Completed MPTCs
	Birmingham;
	Burton;
	Darlington;
	East Lothian;
	Enfield;
	Erith;
	Exeter;
	Gateshead;
	Glasgow;
	Gloucester;
	Hull;
	Ipswich;
	Kings Lynn;
	Leicester;
	Newport;
	Nottingham;
	Rotherham;
	Scunthorpe;
	Shrewsbury;
	St. Helens;
	Peterborough;
	Kirkcaldy;
	Cardington.

Driving Tests: Facilities

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres are to close as a result of the introduction of multi-purpose test centres; and what the location of each centre planned for closure is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency plans to relocate 47 driving test centres to multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs) in the next 12 months. The driving test centre and the MPTC to which it is relocating is shown in the following list.
	
		
			  Driving Test Centre  Relocating to 
			 Aberdeen Aberdeen MPTC 
			 Ayr Ayr MPTC 
			 Basingstoke Farnborough MPTC 
			 Bexleyheath Erith MPTC 
			 Blackburn Blackburn MPTC 
			 Brighton Burgess Hill MPTC 
			 Burton On Trent Burton on Trent MPTC 
			 Camborne L Redruth MPTC 
			 Carlisle Carlisle MPTC 
			 Chester Chester MPTC 
			 Cupar Kirkcaldy MPTC 
			 Dundee Dundee MPTC 
			 Ellesmere Port Chester MPTC 
			 Farnborough Farnborough MPTC 
			 Gedling (Nottingham) Colwick (Nottingham) MPTC 
			 Gillingham Gillingham MPTC 
			 Gosport Lee on Solent (Fareham) MPTC 
			 Gravesend Gillingham MPTC 
			 Haverfordwest Haverfordwest MPTC 
			 Hayes Uxbridge MPTC 
			 Heme Bay Thanet Way MPTC 
			 Hove Burgess Hill MPTC 
			 Inverness Inverness MPTC 
			 Kettering Kettering MPTC 
			 Kings Lynn Kings Lynn MPTC 
			 Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy MPTC 
			 Leicester Welford Road Wigston MPTC 
			 Lincoln Lincoln MPTC 
			 Minehead Taunton MPTC 
			 Norwich Norwich MPTC 
			 Pembroke Dock Haverfordwest MPTC 
			 Penzance Redruth MPTC 
			 Peterborough Peterborough MPTC 
			 Plymouth Plymouth MPTC 
			 Reading LGV Greenham Common MPTC 
			 Shirley Garretts Green MPTC 
			 Southend Basildon MPTC 
			 Spalding Peterborough MPTC 
			 Swansea Swansea MPTC 
			 Swindon Swindon MPTC 
			 Taunton Taunton MPTC 
			 Warrington St Helens MPTC 
			 Washwood Heath Garretts Green MPTC 
			 Wellingborough Kettering MPTC 
			 West Bridgford (Nottingham) Colwick (Nottingham) MPTC 
			 Wisbech Kings Lynn MPTC 
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton MPTC

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost to run Southend driving test centre in each of the last 10 years  (a) in total and  (b) per test.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The total accommodation costs for Southend driving test centre for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Amount shown in accounts  Year end accrual from previous year  Actual total for year 
			 2003 7,881 — 7,881 
			 2004 8,565 — 8,565 
			 2005 13,138 — 13,138 
			 2006 45,613 — 45,613 
			 2007 22,027 26,997 49,024 
		
	
	Owing to a change in the financial reporting system used by Driving Standards Agency (DSA), figures cannot be provided prior to 2003. The accommodation costs provided do not include further costs of operating a driving test centre such as salaries and travel and subsistence claims. DSA does not keep information about the cost per test of providing services by individual driving test centre.

Driving Under the Influence

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research she has commissioned on the marginal effects in terms of accident prevention of lowering the permitted level of alcohol in the blood when driving.

Jim Fitzpatrick: An assessment of the possible effect on road traffic casualties of lowering the legal alcohol limit for drivers was made in the Department's consultation paper 'Combating Drink Driving: Next Steps' (February 1998), copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Lorries: Testing

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many checks on heavy goods vehicles were carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in each of the most recent  (a) 12 months and  (b) four quarters; and what the country of registration was of those vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of the  Morning Star publication her Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: One copy of the  Morning Star is received on a daily basis (Monday to Saturday). The total weekly cost is £3.60.

Railway Stations: Security

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans the British Transport Police have to enhance their screening capability for passengers;
	(2)  what steps will be taken following the London Underground and National Railways Passenger Screening Trials to reduce passenger concerns about the criteria used to select passengers for screening; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment she has made following the London Underground and National Railways Passenger Screening Trials of the practicality of passenger screening at stations, with particular reference to  (a) the numbers who may be screened and  (b) the time taken to screen.

Tom Harris: holding answer 3 July 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 39-40 WS.
	In a press notice issued the same day, the British Transport Police (BTP) noted that "these enhancements build on BTP's existing search measures to screen a proportion of passengers and their bags with minimal delay". Initial deployments of this enhanced capability have been well received by passengers and by station staff.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what percentage of weekends in  (a) June 2008 there were and  (b) July and August 2008 there are expected to be disruptions to the railway line between (i) Colchester and Walton-on-the-Naze and (ii) Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea as a result of engineering works.

Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his questions:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE.

Railways: Scotland

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1068W, on Railways: Scotland, what the terms of reference are of Network Rail's development of longer-term options for the railway network; when she expects it to report; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: holding answer 26 June 2008
	The Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network including new lines and whether or not these should be conventional or high speed. As part of this, on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines. It will consider five of Network Rail's strategic routes, north and west of London: Chiltern, East Coast, West Coast, Great Western and Midland Main Lines. The study is expected to be complete in July 2009.

Railways: Standards

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of passenger train services running between  (a) Clacton-on-Sea and London Liverpool Street and  (b) Walton-on-the-Naze and London Liverpool Street was more than 10 minutes late, in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Tom Harris: National Express East Anglia has advised that 7.30 per cent. of services between Clacton-on-Sea and London Liverpool Street arrived more than 10 minutes late between 25 May and 21 June. 5.6 per cent. of services between Walton-on-the-Naze and London Liverpool Street arrived more than 10 minutes late during the same period.

River Thames: Shipping

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) incidents and  (b) accidents involving vessels there were on the River Thames in each month of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: According to the records of the Port of London Authority, the numbers of reported navigational incidents (collision, contact or grounding) on the tidal River Thames (the area extending from Teddington Lock in the west to the outer limits of the Thames Estuary in the east) in each month of the last three years were:
	
		
			  2005 
			   Number 
			 June 2 
			 July 2 
			 August 2 
			 Sept 2 
			 October 1 
			 November 4 
			 December 2 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 
			   Number 
			 January 1 
			 February 1 
			 March 2 
			 April 1 
			 May 1 
			 June 3 
			 July 3 
			 August 3 
			 Sept 4 
			 October 3 
			 November 5 
			 December 1 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			   Number 
			 January 1 
			 February 0 
			 March 1 
			 April 2 
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 5 
			 August 1 
			 Sept 3 
			 October 4 
			 November 1 
			 December 4 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			   Number 
			 January 4 
			 February 2 
			 March 3 
			 April 0 
			 May 2

Roads: Infrastructure

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research her Department and its agencies are undertaking into the economic effects of bottlenecks in the national road infrastructure, with particular regard to the A417; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Eddington study, published in December 2006, showed that eliminating existing congestion on the road network would be worth £7-8 billion per annum. As part of the Government's response to the Eddington and Stern reviews, the Secretary of State announced on 30 October 2007 that the Department for Transport's appraisal framework, the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA), would be refreshed as part of a review of the Government's approach to transport policy. The refresh included a consultation to which the Department published a response on 30 June 2008. The refresh includes work to develop the Department's appraisal of reliability impacts on major roads. The refreshed approaches in NATA will be applied to the appraisal of all major road schemes.

Rolling Stock

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 1,300 extra carriages referred to in the High Level Output Statement are part of the  (a) Thameslink programme,  (b) Inter City Express programme and  (c) proposed new Pendolino carriages for the West Coast Main Line.

Tom Harris: The High Level Output Specification (HLOS) programme and the exact detail in delivering the vehicles is an iterative process which is being developed with the train operating companies to deliver the additional 1,300 vehicles.
	Some of the vehicles in the Thameslink programme will contribute towards the additional capacity in the HLOS programme. The exact number is still to be determined and depends on a number of factors, including the final contracted delivery profile.
	None of the 1,300 extra carriages promised are part of the Inter City Express programme, but 106 are part of the proposed new Pendolino carriages for the West Coast Main Line.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons were for the consultation process adopted in relation to rolling stock companies prior to the publication of her Department's high level output statement.

Tom Harris: A range of workshops were held with industry, environmental, business, consumer and stakeholder organisations throughout the development of the rail White Paper and the High Level Output Specification. Rolling stock companies were included within this. The reason for the widespread consultation was to inform our thinking before the White Paper was determined.

Rolling Stock: Competition

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the provisional findings of the Competition Commission inquiry into the rolling stock companies to be made available to  (a) her and  (b) ministerial colleagues; and on what date the findings will be made public.

Tom Harris: The Competition Commission are due to notify their provisional findings during the course of this month. The investigation timetable is set out on their website:
	www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2007/roscos/pdf/core-timetable.pdf.

Shipping

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which 24 UK flagged ships were detained by Port State Authorities belonging to the Paris memorandum of undertaking on Port State Control; and what the  (a) name,  (b) manager,  (c) beneficial owner and  (d) country of beneficial owner was of each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The 22 UK registered ships that were detained in 2005-07 by Port State Authorities belonging to the Paris memorandum of undertaking on Port State Control are in the following table.
	
		
			  Detentions 200 -07 
			  (a ) Ship Name  IMO Number  ( b ) Ship Manager  Manager Country  (c) Ship Owner.  (d) Owner Country  Remarks 
			 MSC Colombia 9103685 Zodiac Matitime Agencies Ltd UK Selt Maritime Inc BVI — 
			 Ocean Taxi P040008 Mr Leo Rasmussen Denmark Mr Leo Rasmussen Denmark — 
			 Haahr Bridge 6704426 Uni-Tankers M/T "Haahr Bridge" APS Denmark Uni-Tankers M/T "Haahr Bridge" APS Denmark Flagged out to St Kitts in 01/08 
			 Breant 7802756 Rederi AB Lillgaard Finland Rederi AB Lillgaard Finland — 
			 Betsy S 9143398 Reederei Karl Schlueter Germany K G MS "Betsy" Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBIH and Co Germany — 
			 Maike D 9226372 Reede Reiver Waltung Germany MS "Maike" Schiffahrts-GmbH and Co KG Germany — 
			 Sider Joy 9285433 JSM Shipping Germany BNB Gmgh and Co KG Germany. Flagged out to Malta in 04/07 
			 Locator 7023881 Mylotte Ferries Ltd Ireland Mylotte Ferries Ltd Ireland — 
			 Columbialand 7519282 ASP Ship Management Ltd UK Senior Shipping Limited London Flagged out to Panama in 10/07 
			 Ievoli Silver 8916487 V Ships Norway AS Norway Mosvold Chemical KS Norway — 
			 Finnmaster 9192129 Norbulk Shipping UK Ltd UK Parlines Roro KS Norway — 
			 Sand Weaver 7340899 Cemex UK Marine Ltd UK Cemex UK Marine Ltd UK — 
			 Sun London 7636365 Svitzer Towage Ltd UK Svitzer Towage Ltd UK — 
			 Celtic Terrier 7800734 Campbell Maritime Ltd UK Celtic Tankers Pic UK Flagged out 
			 Ardent 8213445 Anthony Charles Glover UK Anthony Charles Glover UK Changed owner 26/10/07 
			 Hoo Beech 8813051 Lapthorne Shipping UK Lapthorne Shipping UK Company now called Coastal Bulk Shipping 
			 Sea-Land racer 9116890 Maersk Shipping UK Maersk Shipping UK Flagged out to Netherlands in 06/07 
			 Scot Explorer 9137193 Intrada Ships Management Ltd UK Scot Explorer Shipping Ltd UK — 
			 Perth 9162605 All Ocean Ltd UK All Ocean Charters 2 Ltd UK — 
			 Lia C 9195925 Carisbrooke Shipping Holdings Ltd UK Carisbrooke Shipping Holdings Ltd UK Flagged out to Malta in 04/06 
			 Ayton Cross 9206956 Svitzer Marine Ltd UK Svitzer Marine Ltd UK — 
			 Värmland 9276341 MQS Marine Consulting Quality and Safety Germany Tetuan Shipping Company Ltd UK — 
		
	
	In addition to the 22 UK registered ships listed the time of their detention, but recorded as UK above there were two ships that were registered in Gibraltar, at registered.

Transport: Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has tested future transport policy against each of the oil price scenarios provided by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport is currently producing road transport forecasts using the recently updated Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) oil price projections. This work is not yet complete.
	While we have focused on BERR's central oil price projections in previous Department analyses, we have also considered the impacts of each of the alternative price scenarios they provide as sensitivity analyses. We would anticipate this would be undertaken for future road, rail and air forecasts used in policy analysis.

Transport: Schools

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations she has received from bus service operators on the effect of increases in the cost of fuel on the provision of school bus services; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: We are aware from the Department's ongoing discussions with bus operators that there are concerns about the impact of increased fuel costs on all the services they provide, including school bus services.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the outline business case prepared by the Department for Transport Board on outsourcing the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The outline business case is an internal document which remains subject to change. I made a written statement to the House on 3 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 61-64WS, which sets out the substantive decision of Ministers on this matter.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency full Outline Business Case for outsourcing.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The outline business case is an internal document which remains subject to change. I made a written statement to the House on 3 July,  Official Report, columns 61-4WS, which sets out the substantive decision of Ministers on this matter.

Waterloo Station

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to finalise the budget for the conversion of the five vacated Eurostar platforms at Waterloo for use by domestic rail services.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport is working closely with Network Rail and Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT) to finalise the costs of the partial conversion of platform 20 of Waterloo International to accommodate a limited number of domestic services from December 2008.
	However, it is primarily the railway infrastructure outside Waterloo that limits the number of trains that can use the station rather than the number of platforms. Therefore the need is to run longer trains rather than more trains. So we are planning to make all the platforms at Waterloo long enough to accommodate 10 car trains and to modify the junction layouts on the approaches to the station, so that, ultimately, all the platforms at Waterloo, including those once used by Eurostar, can be used by 10 car domestic services.
	Network Rail is currently developing the scope and costs of delivering such a large and complex scheme which would allow the use of longer trains than currently use the short platforms and would result in a large increase in capacity on the South Western network.

Waterloo Station

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects work to commence on the five empty platforms at Waterloo Station to allow use by domestic rail services.

Tom Harris: Work to convert Waterloo International to accommodate a limited number of domestic services will commence this summer. These services, most likely on the routes to Windsor and Reading, could use platform 20 of Waterloo International from the proposed timetable change date in December 2008.
	It is primarily the railway infrastructure outside Waterloo that limits the number of trains that can use the station rather than the number of platforms. Therefore the need is to run longer trains rather than more trains. So we are planning to make all the platforms at Waterloo long enough to accommodate 10 car trains and to modify the junction layouts on the approaches to the station, so that, ultimately, all the platforms at Waterloo, including those once used by Eurostar, can be used by 10 car domestic services.
	Such a large and complex scheme would allow the use of longer trains than currently use the short platforms and would result in a large increase in capacity on the South Western network. Our current assumptions indicate that this could be completed by around 2014.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

192.com

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will  (a) subscribe to the 192.com service and  (b) make it available on the Parliamentary intranet; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Library will not subscribe to 192.com. Some of the information available through this service, including business contact details and directory inquiries services, is freely available from sources such as yell.com and BT directory inquiries, which are already listed on the Library intranet page.
	192.com also contains the redacted version of the electoral register. All Members are able to request the full register for their registration area, free of charge, from the local electoral registration officer. In addition the 'Find Your MP' service on the Parliament website can be used to check which constituency a given postcode falls under. Other information available from 192.com, such as family records, is not likely to be relevant for Parliamentary research purposes

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Big Lottery Fund

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  which Big Lottery Fund-approved grants to the London Olympic project have been (a) notified to and (b) authorised by the EU Commission for State aid clearance, broken down by each budget line approved grant by the Big Lottery Fund;
	(2)  which Big Lottery Fund-approved grants to the London Olympic project have not been notified to the EU Commission State aid department; and what the reasons were for non-notification, broken down by each budget line approved grant by the Big Lottery Fund.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	No such grants have been made.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Disclosure of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether it is her Department's policy to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment she has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 2 June 2008
	Departments deal with requests for information on a case-by-case basis, applying exemptions where it is necessary and appropriate to do so. Any request for officials' home addresses would be handled in this way.

Ethnic Minorities

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what proportion of staff at the Women's National Commission are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) black and minority ethnic male and  (d) black and minority ethnic female.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The Women's National Commission has a small staff and provision of this information in the categories required would make it possible to identify individuals, if such information was used alongside other material in the public domain. This would be in breach of guidance on ethnicity disclosure. The Government Equalities Office sponsors the WNC. Combining the staff numbers of the GEO and the WNC lessens the risk of breaching the guidance on ethnicity disclosure and gives the following figures, based on the declaration staff have made.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			  (a) Male 39.4 
			  (b) Female 60.6 
			  (c) BME male Less than 1 
			  (d) BME female 10.6 
		
	
	The figure for BME males is inflated to a certain extent to avoid the possibility of a breach of guidance. This calculation excludes temporary staff.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Shaun Woodward: The depreciation periods used by the Northern Ireland Office are consistent with the accounting standards laid out in the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above three per cent.

Shaun Woodward: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles:
	Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery;
	Ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within departments' overall expenditure plans; and
	Consistent with the achievement of the inflation target.
	Timing of pay decisions for a particular workforce depends on pay-setting arrangements for that workforce.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Shaun Woodward: Training costs for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and its Agencies in the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   NIO  Agencies  Total 
			 2003-04 1,377,259 3,147,049 4,524,308 
			 2004-05 1,045,425 3,143,007 4,188,432 
			 2005-06 1,068,392 3,271,027 4,339,419 
			 2006-07 853,533 2,509,026 3,362,559 
			 2007-08 636,629 3,017,987 3,654,616 
			  Note:  Training Costs for the last 12 months are shown as the figures for 2007-08.

George W. Bush: Official Visits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of policing and security was for the visit of President George W. Bush to Northern Ireland on 16th June 2008.

Paul Goggins: The additional cost to policing for the visit of President Bush on 16 June was £306,000

Speed Limits: Cameras

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to erect additional fixed speed cameras in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: PSNI currently have no plans to introduce any new fixed safety cameras in Northern Ireland. This is subject to periodic review.

WALES

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many permanent staff in his Department are classed as  (a) staff without posts and  (b) part of a people action team.

Paul Murphy: None.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Paul Murphy: The information is as follows.
	 (a) During the 2005-06, 2006-07 and current Sessions of Parliament the Wales Office answered ordinary written questions on average within five days.
	 (b) For the same period 97 per cent. of named day questions were answered on the specified day.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Angling: Licensing

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was collected from concessionary rod licensees in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the Environment Agency's Concessionary Rod Licence Income between 2003 and 2008.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Category  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Coarse and Trout 2.22 2.33 2.19 2.20 2.44 
			 Salmon and Sea Trout 0.21 0.23 0.22 0.22 0.25 
			 Total 2.43 2.56 2.41 2.42 2.69

Fish Farming: Gordleton

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much subsidy was paid from the public purse to the Aquabella Group in respect of the fish farm at Gordleton in the New Forest in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has not provided any funding to the Aquabella Group in respect of the fish farm at Gordleton, Hampshire in the last five years.

Fisheries: Quotas

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to buy back unused UK fishing quota at the end of 2008 and make it available to the under-10 metre fishing fleet.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 433W.

Regional Development Programme for England

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many grant applications for Regional Development Programme for England money each regional development agency has received for  (a) up to £5,000,  (b) £5,001 to £100,000,  (c) £100,001 to £1,000,000 and  (d) over £1,000,000 since 1 January 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The regional development agencies (RDAs) have been responsible for managing the delivery of the social and economic elements of the Rural Development Programme for England since the programme was formally launched at the beginning of 2008. DEFRA has agreed with RDAs that delivery of the socio-economic measures of the RDPE will take a more strategic approach and will include a significant element of procured or commissioned activity, rather than solely being delivered by an individual application led approach. In addition, some RDPE investment will be through the bottom-up Leader approach. Under Leader Local Action Groups (LAGs) will be allocated individual budgets to fund projects that are part of an agreed Local Development Strategy. The process of agreeing and allocating funds to LAGs is currently under way across regions.
	The number of grant applications by value of individual project received by each agency is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Agency  Up to £5,000  £5,001 to £100,000  £100,001 to £1,000,000  Over £1,000,000 
			 Advantage West Midlands — — 1 10 LAGs 
			1 LAG 4 strategic action plans 
			  
			 East of England Development Agency — 1 1 3 
			1 LAG 6 LAGs 
			  
			 East Midlands Development Agency — 3 11 1 
			 4 LAGs 
			  
			 North West Development Agency — — 2 LAGs 6 LAGs 
			  
			 One North East 9 1 1 4 LAGs 
			1 LAG  
			  
			 South East England Development Agency — 2 6 1 
			 17 LAGs 
			  
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency — 2 2 4 
			 19 LAGs 
			  
			 Yorkshire Forward — 40 9 1 
			 6 LAGs

Regional Development Programme for England

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much each regional development agency has allocated from the Regional Development Programme for England to specific projects since 1 January 2007; and how many such allocations were for  (a) up to £5,000,  (b) £5,001 to £100,000,  (c) £100,001 to £1,000,000 and  (d) over £1,000,000.

Jonathan R Shaw: The regional development agencies have only been able to commit funding to projects under the Rural Development Programme for England since 1 January 2008.
	The total amounts each agency has committed are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Agency  Total  (£ million)  Up to £5,000  £5,001 to £100,000  £100,001 to £1,000,000  Over £1,000,000 
			 Advantage West Midlands 10.2 (LAGs) — — 1 (LAG) 7 (LAGs) 
			   
			 East of England Development Agency 12.8 — 1 1 3 
			  21.1 (LAGs)   1 (LAG) 6 (LAGs) 
			   
			 East Midlands Development Agency 0.7 — 1 4 4 (LAGs) 
			  8 (LAGs) 
			   
			 North West Development Agency 15 (LAGs) — — 2 (LAGs) 6 (LAGs) 
			   
			 One North East 0.1 9 1 1 4 (LAGs) 
			  10.6 (LAGs)   1 (LAG  
			   
			 South East England Development Agency 4 — 1 5 1 
			  27.3 (LAGs)13 (LAGs) 
			   
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 7.1 — 2 1 4 
			   
			 Yorkshire Forward 10.7 — 17 8 1

Rural Areas: Environment Protection

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the recommendations made by the Commission for Rural Communities in its report, England's rural areas: steps to release their economic potential, his Department intends to implement; and what timetable has been set for implementation.

Jonathan R Shaw: This report, commissioned from the Rural Advocate by the Prime Minister, demonstrates the huge contribution made by businesses in rural areas to the national economy. It highlights the relevance of activity across all levels of Government and by the private sector. The recommendations within the report are, therefore, very broadly targeted. DEFRA is working with others across Government to reflect upon the report and how best to respond to its recommendations.

Whales: Japan

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the compliance of the Japanese Government with the regulations of the International Whaling Commission (IWC); and what recent representations he has made to it on its observance of IWC regulations.

Jonathan R Shaw: The right of Governments to issue permits for the killing of whales for scientific purposes is enshrined in Article VIII of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), the parent treaty of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We doubt that the authors of the ICRW envisaged that parties would seek to conduct research on the scale now practised by Japan, but whether Japan's activities in this regard can be said to constitute an abuse of the rights granted by Article VIII of the ICRW is a matter which only the courts could determine—were anyone prepared to stand the cost of asking.
	Whether or not 'scientific' whaling is legal, we certainly regard it as undesirable since it undermines the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling and contributes little or nothing to our knowledge of the size and structure of whale populations.
	The UK takes every appropriate opportunity to make its opposition to Japan's 'scientific' whaling operations clear to the Japanese Government. We have participated in a number of high level diplomatic protests in recent years and on 8 January this year I called in officials from the Japanese embassy in London to express the UK's outrage over Japan's whaling activities. At this year's IWC meeting in June the UK Commissioner to the IWC made it clear that we saw no justification for lethal scientific research on whales and called for Special Permit whaling to be brought within IWC control and phased out as quickly as possible.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

Margaret Hodge: My Department currently has 50 members of staff authorised to work from home. They all have limited access to my Department's IT infrastructure. Additionally, my Department has a further 35 staff with remote access on the same basis.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 9W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received by senior civil servants in his Department in 2007 to be published.

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The reimbursable expenses claimed by the Department's special advisers in each of the last 10 years are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Amounts claimed (£) 
			 1998-99 516.66 
			 1999-2000 417.27 
			 2000-01 2,204.40 
			 2001-02 1,847.91 
			 2002-03 1,188.40 
			 2003-04 1,079.60 
			 2004-05 1,549.45 
			 2005-06 1,147.31 
			 2006-07 1,342.24 
			 2007-08 680.30

Education, Youth and Culture Council

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 50WS, on Education, Youth and Culture Council, for what reasons a Welsh Assembly Government Minister represented the UK.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 1 July 2008
	According to the concordat agreed between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, decisions on ministerial attendance at Council meetings are taken on a case by case basis by the lead UK Minister. It was agreed that a Welsh Assembly Government Minister could represent the UK to support and advance the UK negotiating line on this occasion.

English Sports Council

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library  (a) an organogram of Sport England's key responsibilities under its new strategy and  (b) a list of the delivery agencies who will carry them out.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 30 June 2008
	Sport England's role will be to build the foundations of sporting success through the creation of a world-leading sports development system. The organisational structure which will deliver the Sport England 2008 to 2011 strategy is being finalised and will be announced shortly. I have therefore asked Sport England to write to the hon. Member to provide the information requested once their new structure has been announced. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

English Sports Council: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by Sport England on specialist national facilities, excluding those on UK Sports Institute sites, in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England allocates funding for specialist national facilities through the English Institute of Sport (EIS) programme. All EIS facilities are also classed as part of the UK Sports Institute (UKSI).
	Other facilities funded by Sport England are funded on the basis of the benefit to community sport, and while they may be used for specialist national purposes, information on the amount spent on non-UKSI community facilities which also have specialist national purpose could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

English Sports Council: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Sport England has received in  (a) grant-in-aid and  (b) lottery funding in each year since 1999.  [Official Report, 10 September 2008, Vol. 479, c. 10MC.]

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			Sport England grant in aid  SE lottery funding 
			 Outturn 1999-2000 37,523 251,000 
			 Outturn 2000-01 38,323 232,000 
			 Outturn 2001-02 43,162 309,000 
			 Outturn 2002-03 80,324 313,000 
			 Outturn 2003-04 44,572 261,000 
			 Outturn 2004-05 74,456 232,000 
			 Outturn 2005-06 80,971 400,000 
			 Outturn 2006-07 104,245 296,000 
			 Provisional Outturn(1) 2007-08 113,296 227,000 
			 (1 )The accounts for Sport England have not yet been audited.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many items there are in the Government art Collection; and what the value of the collection is.

Margaret Hodge: There are approximately 13,500 works of art in the Government art collection.
	It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the value of the Government art collection, which has no current market valuation. The current monetary value of a work of art can be accurately assessed only at the time of purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the whole collection valued professionally.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many items from the Government art Collection are on loan to  (a) UK and  (b) overseas institutions, Governments and galleries.

Margaret Hodge: The Government art Collection lends works of art from its holdings for display in United Kingdom Government buildings in the UK and abroad in order to promote British art, culture and history to visitors.
	 (a) There are currently 3,732 works of art on loan to UK Government buildings in the UK. There are 116 works of art on loan to institutions and galleries in the UK.
	 (b) There are 5,428 works of art on loan to UK Government buildings overseas. There are six works of art on loan to institutions, governments and galleries overseas.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much it cost to maintain the Government art Collection in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Total resource costs of Government Art Collection  Net GAC programme cost  Of which conservation and restoration costs  GAC administration cost  GAC capitalised additions to collection 
			 2003-04 808 313 181 495 220 
			 2004-05 884 348 194 536 287 
			 2005-06 918 352 177 566 242 
			 2006-07 958 346 221 612 228 
			 2007-08 1,033 395 218 638 314 
		
	
	Programme costs mainly comprise conservation and restoration, and transport of works of art. The table lists conservation and restoration costs separately for ease of reference. Staff and associated costs are included under administration costs. Expenditure on purchases of works of art from the capital budget is set out in the final column.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed to maintain and advise on the Government art Collection.

Margaret Hodge: On 31 May 2008 15 staff were employed to maintain and advise on the Government art Collection.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many art works from the Government art Collection have been  (a) sold and  (b) loaned permanently to institutions and individuals outside the UK in the last 10 years; and what the value was of such works in each year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) No works of art have been sold from the Government art Collection in the last 10 years.
	 (b) There are six works of art on long-term loan to institutions outside the UK which are not UK Government buildings. HMG retains title to these items and so their financial value remains on the DCMS balance sheet.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many art works were purchased by the Government art Collection in each of the last 10 years; and what the value was of such purchases in each year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of works purchased  Cost (£) 
			 1998-99 95 125,262 
			 1999-2000 152 194,296 
			 2000-01 81 134,440 
			 2001-02 54 158,926 
			 2002-03 63 279,393 
			 2003-04 64 225,119 
			 2004-05 52 295,169 
			 2005-06 50 241,745 
			 2006-07 43 227,590 
			 2007-08 65 314,367

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library the minutes of all meetings of the Government Art Collection Committee to discuss art work in the new Home Department building in Westminster.

Margaret Hodge: There is no Government Art Collection (GAC) Committee to discuss the Home Office building in Westminster. The aspects of Home Office commissioning for which the GAC is responsible are discussed at the meetings of the Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection. The minutes relating to these discussions will be placed in the Library.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have visited the Government art Collection in the last 12 months; and how many were not associated with  (a) the UK Government or  (b) overseas Governments.

Margaret Hodge: From 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2008, approximately 2,000 people visited the Government art collection, of whom about 1,700 were not associated with the UK or overseas Governments.

National Lottery: British Overseas Territories

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether historic sites in overseas territories may apply for National Lottery funding; and what other Government funding is available for the maintenance of heritage centres and historic sites in overseas territories;
	(2)  whether funding or grants from the National Lottery may be allocated to heritage sites in British overseas territories.

Margaret Hodge: National lottery grants are awarded by lottery distributors who are independent of the Government; the Heritage Lottery Fund is responsible for distributing proceeds from the lottery for expenditure on or connected with national heritage (including historic sites and public access). It does not support applications in respect of historic sites in overseas territories. There are no plans to change this position. No other public funding is available from sources in the United Kingdom in relation to the maintenance of heritage centres and historic sites in overseas territories.

Public Libraries: Closures

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many library closures have taken place since 1997; what the reasons have been for those closures; and how much is planned to be spent on library services in 2008-09.

Margaret Hodge: The number of public library closures and the reasons for those closures are not centrally recorded. However, the net change in library service points can be calculated using Public Library Statistics, an annual report published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These reports are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The forecast net total cost of expenditure on library services in England for 2008-09 is £1,003,087,000 (excluding specific grants).

Public Libraries: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) public and  (b) mobile libraries there were in (i) Hampshire, (ii) the Test Valley and (iii) Southampton in each of the last 15 years.

Margaret Hodge: The number of public and mobile libraries is set out in Public Library Statistics, an annual report published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These reports are available in the House of Commons Library. The figures are published at local authority level and are available for Hampshire and Southampton, but not for the Test Valley.

Road Signs and Markings: Tourist Attractions

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received seeking the review of guidelines on the erection of brown road signs indicating tourist attractions.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	I can confirm that no such representations have been received by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Transport, or the Highways Agency.

VisitBritain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to close VisitBritain offices overseas.

Margaret Hodge: VisitBritain is currently considering the best use of all of its assets at home and overseas in the marketing of Britain, as part of its Strategic Review. The review is re-examining among other things how best to market Britain overseas, ensuring that full account is taken of changing market conditions and the need for best value for money.
	This includes a full consideration of the appropriate mix of online marketing and overseas representation, and the identification of further operational efficiencies that can be achieved through shared resources and joint promotion. This process has included discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council, VisitLondon, VisitScotland, Visit Wales, and VisitBritain's other public and private sector partners. The results of the review will be published following full consultation on the recommendations made.

World Heritage Sites

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the process for selecting places of interest for UNESCO World Heritage status; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: We are currently reviewing our World Heritage policy including the selection of sites for potential nomination to UNESCO for World Heritage status.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Gillian Merron: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular workforce depends on pay-setting arrangements for that workforce.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 24 months.

Shahid Malik: Over the last 24 months a total of 115 passes have been reported as lost or stolen by Department for International Development (DFID) staff in the UK. We do not hold a central record of passes lost by staff in our overseas offices and these data could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) subscribes to the Parliamentary TV System to allow access to the Parliamentary Annunciator System, the Division Bell and Commons and Lords TV channels in the UK. Other services and channels are included in the package; these are selected by the Information Committee of the Houses of Parliament.
	DFID has subscribed to the above service since 1997. Annual costs for 2006, 2007 and 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 2006 20,850 
			 2007 20,850 
			 2008(1) 6,610 
			 (1)To date. 
		
	
	In addition, DFID pays the annual standard TV licence fee of £139.50 per year for two Freeview digital boxes.

Developing Countries: Debts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to ensure that heavily indebted countries are able to access debt relief funds from the UK Government.

Gareth Thomas: The UK provides debt relief to heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) under the internationally agreed frameworks. Excellent progress has been made, with 33 countries benefiting from debt relief under HIPC; of these 23 have received 100 per cent. irrevocable debt cancellation, under the multilateral debt relief initiative. To qualify, countries must demonstrate a commitment to macro-economic stability and poverty reduction, and have cleared any arrears to the international financial institutions. The UK exceeds our obligations under the HIPC Initiative, providing 100 per cent. debt relief on bilateral debts.
	The UK supports HIPC countries to achieve debt relief. We have consistently argued for the World Bank and IMF to apply the HIPC criteria flexibly, taking account of a country's circumstances. For instance, whether it is emerging from conflict. We are the second largest donor towards the multilateral costs of HIPC debt relief, enabling countries to receive their debt relief in a timely way. We have contributed our full share to MDRI and made substantial contributions towards clearing arrears of HIPCs, most recently Liberia. Many of the HIPCs that have yet to qualify for debt relief are affected by conflict or poor governance.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase access to HIV positive preventative services for  (a) injecting drug users and  (b) men who have sexual intercourse with men in developing countries.

Gillian Merron: The 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' places at its heart the needs and rights of women, young people, children and vulnerable groups, including injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. The international goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support requires a commitment to equity, inclusion and human rights. The UK Government are intensifying efforts to increase the coverage of HIV/AIDS services for injecting drug users in countries where they are most affected and to improve the international environment on harm reduction, particularly through advocating for a stronger reflection on harm reduction and AIDS at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2009. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will work with the Department for International Development (DFID) to ensure broad and effective UK support.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to provide technical, financial and political support to countries wishing to use TRIPS flexibilities.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) fully supports the right of developing countries to use all the flexibilities in the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, notably to ensure affordable access to medicines to meet public health needs. In particular the DFID aims to ensure that EU agreements with developing countries avoid, as a matter of course, imposing intellectual property obligations that eliminate these flexibilities.
	Over the last five years DFID has spent over £1.6 million on enhancing developing countries' knowledge of and capability to use the TRIPS agreement, as well as their flexibilities within it. In September 2007, an additional £1.35 million was committed over three years, to assist developing countries implement intellectual property policies in ways that support sustainable development. This includes support through the International Centre for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how gender-based differences in AIDS prevention, education, and aid are incorporated into his Department's AIDS Strategy.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government's updated seven year AIDS strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' places at its heart the needs and rights of women and girls. This includes promoting the needs and rights of women through the integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV, challenging gender based violence, research into female controlled prevention techniques such as microbicides, supporting girl's education, and reducing the burden of care on women and children through social protection. The updated AIDS strategy recognises that addressing gender inequality and ensuring women's rights is essential if we are to achieve universal access.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID) commitment to gender equality is set out in the 2006 White Paper
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/wp2006/default.asp
	and the 2007 gender equity action plan
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/gender-equality.pdf
	We will identify gender related targets in our corporate business plan, which will be monitored and evaluated at divisional level. Internationally, we are engaging with the OECD Development Assistance committee (DAC) on how to improve the quality of gender statistics and we will work to ensure that national AIDS plans integrate gender analysis and development indicators to measure the impact of the response to women and girls.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the earmarking of AIDS aid for children; and whether such earmarked funds will be incorporated in the new AIDS Strategy.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development's previous AIDS strategy 'Taking Action' was launched in 2004. This set a £150 million earmark for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The earmark was an important step in accelerating action. Considerable progress has been made against the target, and initial estimates suggest we have exceeded it. It is likely that future support to orphans and vulnerable children from other donors will also increase in the coming years.
	The UK Government continue to place the needs and rights of children affected by AIDS at the heart of our updated AIDS strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world'. Over the next three years we are committed to expanding our social protection programmes to over £200 million, which will be channelled both through Government and non-governmental organisations. Evidence has shown that integrating the needs of orphans and vulnerable children into social protection programmes, including cash transfers, is highly effective in reaching children affected by AIDS and promoting their access to basic services.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means his Department will disburse the £2.5 billion allocated to AIDS in the Developing World over the next three years; and whether any private organisations will be involved in the implementation of this aid.

Gillian Merron: In "Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world" the UK Government committed £6 billion to strengthen health systems and services over seven years to 2015. The UK Government have also committed to spend over £200 million on social protection over three years to support the most vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children. Funding for research and development of AIDS vaccines and microbicides will be increased by at least 50 per cent. over 2008-13. In addition to these recent commitments, the UK Government have made a long-term commitment of £1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
	In countries with strong commitments to development, Department for International Development (DFlD) support is focused on the implementation of comprehensive country-led HIV/AIDS strategies, directly funding governments and working with civil society partners and donor agencies. In more fragile states, where governments are less effective, we provide technical support to strengthen Government capacity as well as direct support for service delivery by civil society organisations. Half of our support reaches countries through international agencies including UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and the European Commission. The private sector plays a significant role in the provision of services, through funding and research, influencing Governments and promoting workplace policies and corporate responsibility programmes which mitigate the impact of AIDS.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what programmes are being funded by his Department to facilitate universal access to HIV treatment; and what the estimated cost of providing these programmes is;
	(2)  what financial support his Department's programmes provide to those living with AIDS who are in need of treatment; and what plans he has for the future provision of such programmes;
	(3)  if he will break down by main budget heading the spending plans for the Government's AIDS strategy.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government are working with others to increase access to more affordable and sustainable AIDS treatment. Specific actions to support these objectives include:
	the launch of and support for the Medicines Transparency Initiative, which, by disclosing information on the prices, quality and availability of medicines will help increase public accountability and improve access to medicines, including AIDS treatment;
	support for UNITAID, the international drugs purchase facility; and
	support for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided over £1.5 billion to tackle HIV and AIDS since 2005. DFID does not break down its expenditure on HIV and AIDS between prevention, treatment and care. Our comprehensive response to the epidemic aims to link these elements. DFID does not support vertical, stand-alone interventions that weaken national systems and responses. In supporting country-led AIDS responses with investments such as budget and sector support we cannot disaggregate our expenditure by prevention, treatment and care.
	DFID laid out how it would continue to tackle HIV and AIDS in its recent publication 'Achieving Universal Access'. DFID's country allocations for the next three years were presented in its annual report 2008, published in May. Individual country allocations for HIV and AIDS will be determined through discussions with other donors, partner governments and other stakeholders to ensure DFID aid is delivered in the most efficient way.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to commit funding to the global AIDS strategy to contribute to a reduction in the strategy's funding gap;
	(2)  how much money the Government will be required to commit to the global AIDS strategy to remain the world's second largest AIDS donor in the next financial year;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to secure donations and assistance to the global AIDS strategy from other countries.

Gillian Merron: We are unaware of an internationally agreed global AIDS strategy. However, the UK Government are determined to play its part in closing the AIDS funding gap, estimated by UNAIDS to be US$ 40 billion by 2010—a highly ambitious quadrupling of current spending over just three years. That is why we made several new financial commitments in our recently published updated seven year strategy "Achieving Universal Access—UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world". These commitments include: £6 billion over seven years to strengthen health systems and £200 million over three years to support social protection programmes.
	Our objective is to combat HIV and AIDS and we will continue to encourage other countries and institutions to meet their commitments.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to facilitate transparency in the reporting of AIDS funding in health budgets of those nations receiving UK aid.

Gillian Merron: The Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) collects data on how much households, national governments, international foundations and charities, as well as bilateral and multilateral assistance agencies spend on AIDS in low and middle income countries. This work helps to develop and maintain the best possible estimates of available financing, for use in tracking progress toward meeting defined resource requirements.
	The national accounts of governments in our partner countries also track spending on health and other budget areas. As the nature of much health spending is multipurpose, apportionments to specific diseases, such as AIDS, is not straightforward.
	The UK Government also track and monitor their own international development spending on AIDS and health but similarly it is not straightforward to apportion broader support to health systems to any specific disease. However, much of the UK support to the health sector will contribute to improved AIDS outcomes.
	Through the International Health Partnership (IHP), donors are also expected to be more transparent about their support for national health plans, including for HIV/AIDS. Developing country governments have committed to report progress in reaching the targets and disbursing the amounts budgeted in their plans.

Developing Countries: Infant Mortality

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to address child mortality in developing countries, with particular reference to those developing countries with the highest mortality rates.

Gillian Merron: Progress on strengthening health systems in poor countries is vital if we are to accelerate progress towards achieving the child health Millennium Development Goal. This is why, along with other UN health agencies and a wide range of donors and country partners, DFID has championed the International Health Partnership designed to strengthen health systems and improve in-country donor coordination.
	The UK also contributes to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation and Roll Back Malaria, which have helped raise awareness of childhood diseases and substantially increased the resources directed towards improving child health. The UK is also the second biggest donor to UNICEF and supports action to improve child health in several countries including Burundi, DRC, Nepal and Sudan.
	On 2 June the UK Government's updated seven-year AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world was launched. This made several commitments which will benefit children, including 6 billion over seven years to strengthen health systems and 200 million over three years to support social protection programmes.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website: www.dfid.gov.uk.

Ethiopia: Food

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to Ethiopia to help with the recent grain shortage there; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government are very concerned at the humanitarian situation in parts of Ethiopia as a result of the failure of the short (Belg) rains. On 12 June the Ethiopian Government and the UN issued a joint appeal for a total of $421 million.
	In May, the Department for International Development (DFID) provided 5 million in support of humanitarian initiatives. I have approved a further 20 million in response to the worsening humanitarian situation.
	The severity of the situation is increased by the shortage of food available in the country. Other donors to Ethiopia are shipping cereal to the country, but this will not begin to arrive until late July at the earliest. DFID's assistance therefore will fund emergency feeding programmes for the most vulnerable, especially children, until food availability improves.
	DFID is also increasing its funding to the Government of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme for chronically food insecure households bringing total for this year to 27 million.

Family Planning: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payments his Department has made to  (a) Marie Stopes International,  (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation and  (c) the United Nations Population Fund for (i) abortion, (ii) family planning and (iii) other reproductive health services in 2007-08; how much is planned for 2008-09; what restrictions his Department places on the use of such funds; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to break down spending by (i) abortion, (ii) family planning, and (iii) other reproductive health services. However, DFID provided the following amounts to the organisations named;
	In 2007-08 DFID provided 854,432 to Marie Stopes International (MSI) in support of 10 projects in developing countries to improve sexual and reproductive health services. The estimated disbursement figure for 2008-09 is expected to be about 700,000 for six projects.
	In 2007-08 DFID provided 7.5 million of un-earmarked funding to the central budget of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and 20 million of un-earmarked funding to the central budget of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) in 2007-08. Un-earmarked central funding carries no restrictions and enables IPPF and UNFPA to deliver their strategic plans, which include improving sexual and reproductive health services (including provision of safe abortion services where these are legal) and family planning, as agreed by their member states through their governing bodies. DFID's 2008-09 central budget contributions to IPPF and UNFPA are still being considered and will be announced soon.
	DFID provided a further 2.050 million to IPPF towards the multi-donor funded Safe Action Abortion Fund (SAAF) and an additional 107,000 to IPPF in 2007-08 for a safe motherhood project in Asia which is now completed. DFID estimates a further 1.2 million will be allocated to IPPF for the SAAR in 2008-09.
	DFID will also provide a total of 100 million between 2008-13 to support UNFPA's Global Programme to Enhance Reproductive Health Commodity Security. This will benefit the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and men in developing countries including access to life saving drugs and equipment to improve maternal health.

G8: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps are being taken by his Department to fulfil funding commitments made by the Government at the Heiligendamm Summit, with particular reference to the timetable for AIDS funding contributions; and what steps are being taken to encourage other G8 countries to contribute;
	(2)  what progress has been made in fulfilling the financial commitments relating to the 1.5 billion required for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of AIDS.

Gillian Merron: At the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007, the G8 committed to scale up their efforts to achieve Universal Access to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010, including providing with other donors a projected $60 billion over the coming years for disease control and health systems. This includes a commitment of $1.5 billion for prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. The UK Government are working to encourage G8 colleagues to ensure previous summit commitments are implemented as a priority at the forthcoming G8 leaders' summit in Japan on 7 to 9 July and to encourage G8 and other colleagues to contribute their share towards the goal of Universal Access.
	In Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world the Government committed 6 billion to strengthen health systems and services over seven years to 2015, including PMTCT. In addition to this recent commitment, the UK Government have made a long-term commitment of 1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a leading source of PMTCT funding.
	The UK will continue to work with others to intensify international efforts to increase to 80 per cent. by 2010 the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women who receive antiretroviral treatment, to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission, both in low income and high prevalence countries. The UK also helps to tackle HIV-related mother and child mortality and to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV through our support to health systems strengthening.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Overseas Aid: Health Professions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Health and  (b) relevant stakeholders on the quality of the contribution to be made to aid efforts by healthcare workers volunteering on development and relief programmes.

Gillian Merron: Department of Health (DH) and the Department for International Development discussed this topic extensively in relation to the Government's response to Lord Crisp's report, Global Health Partnerships: The UK contribution to health in developing countries. I have had meetings with Lord Crisp, my DH counterpart Dawn Primarolo, and the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), a key stakeholder. DFID and DH value long-term sustainable partnerships in the health sector, and consider there are significant opportunities for healthcare professionals to participate in international development.
	As outlined in the Government response to Lord Crisp's report, DH is producing a framework for international development; this will update their International Humanitarian and Health Work: Toolkit to support good practice and be a guide for those considering developing country work. DFID and DH also commissioned an independent evaluation of links programmes between UK and developing country health organisations to identify what has worked well and good practice lessons. This will help inform the design of (i) a new funding scheme for links, and (ii) a Links Centre, which will include information for individuals wishing to volunteer for humanitarian work.
	As this work is implemented both departments continue discussions with key stakeholders. For example, officials from both DFID and DH participated in the recent twentieth anniversary national health links conference organised by THET.

Sierra Leone: Politics and Government

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department allocated to the National Democratic Institute for learning and development provision for parliamentarians in Sierra Leone in each of the last two years.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) has currently allocated 300,000 to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to work with the newly elected Parliament of Sierra Leone. This project, entitled Strengthening the Parliament of Sierra Leone, commenced in September 2007 and is due to be completed by the end of July 2008.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Poverty

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policies in reducing the number of children in poverty.

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to meet the Government's target of eradicating child poverty.

Stephen Timms: We have succeeded in arresting and reversing the rising trend of child poverty with 600,000 children lifted above the line in the past decade. On Budget Day we published 'Ending child poverty: everybody's business' setting out progress to date and the Government's strategy.

Child/Pensioner Poverty

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to speed up the reduction of child and pensioner poverty.

Mike O'Brien: Since 1998-99 we have lifted 600,000 children and 900,000 pensioners out of relative poverty. We have announced measures that are estimated to lift around a further 500,000 children out of poverty and we will continue to tackle pensioner poverty by encouraging take-up of benefits, and through the commitments made in Pensions Act 2007.

Index-linked Pensions

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's time scale is for restoring index-linking of pensions with earnings.

Mike O'Brien: The Pensions Act 2007 provides a statutory requirement to uprate the basic state pension in line with average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012 but, in any event, we are required to do this by the end of the next Parliament.

Pensioner Poverty

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to alleviate pensioner poverty.

Mike O'Brien: Through targeted support and around 12 billion extra funding, we have lifted 900,000 pensioners out of relative poverty. We have raised the pension credit standard minimum guarantee by at least earnings in every year since its introduction, and the value of the safety-net we provide for the poorest pensioners has increased by over a third in real terms since 1997.

Welfare to Work Contracts

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to promote the availability of welfare to work programme contracts to voluntary organisations.

Stephen Timms: Many voluntary sector organisations have expertise in helping people overcome barriers and return to work. The Department's new commissioning strategy envisages a full role for them as subcontractors to prime contractors. We set up last month a Third Sector task force to advise on any further steps to ensure voluntary organisations can play a full role in welfare to work.

Disabled Children

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals his Department is considering to improve the support given to parents of children with disabilities.

Anne McGuire: In May 2007 'Aiming High for Disabled Children', announced 370 million for short break services over the CSR period. In addition, as a result of the Carers' Strategy, we will be investing 255 million to support carers, including those with disabled children over the short term.

Child Support

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of outstanding Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Operational Improvement Plan is delivering impressive results on outstanding cases. Uncleared new scheme applications have fallen from 221,000 to just under 107,000. Uncleared old scheme applications have fallen from 65,000 to 27,000.
	The Agency continues to clear more cases per month than it receives.

Child Support

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on child support issues.

James Plaskitt: I received several representations on child support issues during the passage of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act. In particular, I received representations from One Parent Families/Gingerbread, Families Need Fathers, Resolution, and the Law Society of Scotland on a variety of issues that were debated in both Houses. This followed on from the consultation on the Government's response to Sir David Henshaw's review of Child Maintenance, where we received 191 responses, 33 of which were from stakeholder groups.
	The new chair and Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission have also received representations and are actively working with stakeholders on the development of the reformed Child Maintenance system.

Departmental Service Delivery

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage innovative policy development by his Department's staff to improve service delivery.

Stephen Timms: All our agencies are committed to delivering a first class service to their customers. Jobcentre Plus, for example, is an acknowledged world leader.
	To further improve our service, we are increasingly devolving the power to those best placed to delivergiving control to customers, to advisers, to providers and to communities to help provide the service people deserve.
	One way of ensuring this is to encourage provider organisations with whom we work to suggest innovative programmesin effect giving them a right to bidso that we can consider how best we might make use of their innovation and flexibility.

Children: Maintenance

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of Child Support Agency cases in arrears that will go uncollected in the next five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 7July 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Child Support Agency cases in arrears that will go uncollected in the next five years.
	Most child support cases accrue debt once an assessment or calculation has been carried out as the effective date of the assessment or calculation is often backdated and debt accrues from the effective date. It is not possible to provide an estimate of how many of these cases will not have the debt collected in the next five years.
	The Agency takes the collection of outstanding debt very seriously. The focus of the final year of the Operational Improvement Plan continues to be enforcement and compliance, as the Agency strives to increase its debt collection and get more money for more children. Every effort is made to ensure the non-resident parents fulfil their financial responsibility to their children.
	The Agency collected or arranged more than 1 billion in maintenance in the twelve months to March 2008, of which 126m was arrears. This is almost twice the 68 million of arrears collected in the year to March 2005 before the full introduction of the Operational Improvement Plan.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not available centrally in the format requested and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Anne McGuire: Over the last two years the IT contracts awarded by the DWP are with Accenture for the Employment Support Allowance.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental and agency staff were reported as (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year between 1997 and 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department was formed in 2001, and complete records in respect of the period from 1997 to 2000 are not available.

Departmental Manpower

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants were employed in each of his Department's main offices in North Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 July 2008
	 Information is available from September 2001 following the establishment of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001. For each year since then the number of civil servants employed in the Department's main offices in North Wales are shown in the following table.
	Main offices are defined as being where 50 staff or more are or were employed.
	
		
			March  September 
			  Office  Town  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001 
			 Ty Pont Britannia Bangor 427 267 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Government Buildings Penrallt Caernarfon 39 46 171 79 72 79 84 86 
			 4a Coed Pella Road Colwyn Bay 66 54 45 79 99 93 91 97 
			 Flint House Flint 0 0 8 57 63 65 76 74 
			 Government Buildings Bridge Street Llangefni 25 26 40 63 51 50 52 54 
			 Thetford House Porthmadog 21 22 45 63 59 67 72 69 
			 80 High Street Rhyl 61 48 43 26 25 31 39 42 
			 64 Brighton Road Rhyl 0 10 26 153 165 160 167 170 
			 Grosvenor Road Wrexham 578 462 464 444 521 484 287 238 
			 Lord Street Wrexham 0 63 57 47 79 93 104 72 
			 Other officesunder 50 staff  185 176 214 256 292 276 262 254 
			 Total  1,402 1,174 1,113 1,267 1,426 1,398 1,234 1,156

Departmental Records: Lost Property

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of personal information relating to members of the public that has been lost by his Department or its agencies since 1997 has since been rediscovered in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department takes very seriously its responsibilities to protect customers' personal information. Given the nature and scale of the business of the Department and its agencies, instances when such personal information is lost are rare. Such incidents as do arise are, because of their very nature, usually dealt with and resolved locally.
	No central records are kept of such small localised incidents and, consequently, information about the proportion of personal information lost and rediscovered is not available.

Departmental Standards

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which projects in his Department have been subject to gateway reviews; and what the gateway review status of each is.

Stephen Timms: Gateway reports, including the findings and status, are conducted on a confidential basis for senior responsible owners (SROs) and are not therefore made available.
	The information in the following table provides a list of the gateway reviews undertaken on the Department's projects since 1 January 2003 in date order. Records of reviews undertaken prior to this date are not held centrally.
	
		
			   Name of review 
			 2002-03 Strategic Telephony 
			  Universal Banking System 
			  Child Support Reforms 
			  Job Retention and Rehabilitation 
			  Pensions Forecasting 
			  Incapacity Benefits Reforms 
			   
			 2003-04 Work Focused Interviews 
			  Bandaid 
			  Health and Safety Executive (HSE)Major Hazards Installations System 
			  Digital Office Infrastructure 
			  Modernising Appeals 
			  Debt Management Programme 
			  Jobcentre Plus Implementation Programme 
			  HSECorporate Information Project 
			  Medical Provision Procurement of Services 
			  e-Enablement of Carers Allowance 
			  Incapacity Benefit Reforms 
			  Standard Local Housing Allowance 
			  HSEMajor Hazards Installations System 
			  Debt Management Programme 
			  Customer Information System 
			  Strategic Telephony 
			  Incapacity Benefit Reforms 
			  Electronic Registered Files 
			  Multi-Functional Server Replacement 
			  Work Focused Interviews for Partners of Working Age Beneficiaries 
			  HSECorporate Information Project 
			  HSERe-Fit 
			  Medical Provision Procurement of Services 
			   
			 2004-05 HR IS/IT Modernisation 
			  Euro Programme 
			  HSECorporate Information Project 
			  Review of Office Services 
			  Customer Management System 
			  Civil Partnerships Registration 
			  Pensions Organisation Project 
			  Inherited State Earnings-related Pensions System 
			  State Pension Deferrals 
			  Resource Management System 
			  Debt Management Programme 
			  Universal Banking Programme 
			  Electronic Registered Files 
			  Incapacity Benefit ReformsExtension to Existing Customers 
			  HR IS/IT Modernisation 
			  (HR) Service Delivery Model 
			  Staff Information System 
			  The Pensions Regulator Programme 
			  Medical Provision Procurement Project 
			  Records Storage Project 
			  HSEElectronic Document Records Management (EDRM) 
			  Jobcentre Plus Implementation 
			  Benefit Processing Re-engineering Programme/Watch 3 
			   
			 2005-06 Pensions Transformation Programme (PTP) 
			  DWP IT Transformation Programme 
			  Payment Modernisation Programme 
			  HSEHR Service Transformation (HRST) 
			  Corporate Integration Backbone 
			  Staff Information SystemPhase 2 
			  IT Information Flows in Local Authorities 
			  Centralisation of Benefit Processing 
			  New Deal for Disabled People Successor 
			  Employee Services 
			  Child Support Reforms Business Transformation 
			  HSECorporate Information Project 
			  Disability and Carers Service (DCS) Change Programme 
			  Provider-led Pathways to Work 
			  Electronic Registered Files 
			  Employee Services 
			  The Pensions Regulator Programme 
			  HSEHRST 
			  HSEEDRM 
			  BPRP/Watch 2 
			  Universal Banking 
			  Central Payment System 
			  HSEFIT3 Programme 
			  Employee Services 
			  Debt Management Programme 
			  Multi-Functional Server Replacement 
			  DWP Vehicle Procurement Project 
			  Jobcentre Plus Implementation 
			  Centralisation of Benefits Processing 
			   
			 2006-07 DCS Change Programme 
			  DWP IT Transformation Programme 
			  Review of Office Services 
			  HSEHRST 
			  Pensions Transformation Programme 
			  The Pensions Regulator Programme 
			  Review of Office Services 
			  HSEEDRM 
			  ID Cards 
			  HR IS/IT Modernisation Programme 
			  Review of Head Office Estate 
			  HSEHRST 
			  Employment Support Allowance 
			  Document Repository Service 
			  Provider-led Pathways to Work 
			  Resource Management System 
			  CSA Operational Improvement Plan 
			  Review of Office Services 
			  Contracted Employment Projects (CEPP) 
			  Central Payments System 
			   
			 2007-08 Review of Head Office Estate 
			  Child Maintenance Re-design 
			  Centralisation of Benefit Processing 
			  HSEFIT3 Programme 
			  Enabling Savings Programme 
			  Employment Support Allowance 
			  Document Repository Service 
			  Provider-led Pathways to Work 
			  DWP Change Programme 
			  Customer Information System r4 
			  Method of Payment Reform Programme 
			  Child Maintenance Redesign 
			  Provider-led Pathways to Work 
			  Pensions Transformation Programme 
			  HSEHow and Where We Work 
			  DCS Change Programme 
			  Employment Support Allowance 
			  The Pensions Regulator 
			  HSEUniversal Work Recording 
			  Provider-led Pathways to Work 
			  HR IS/IT Modernisation Programme 
			  Pensions Reform Delivery Programme 
			  Flexible New Deal 
			   
			 2008-09 Enhanced Transmission Service Enhancements 
			  Civil Partnerships 
			  Head Office Estates Programme

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: DWP offers a wide portfolio of LD learning solutions that can be accessed via an IT Learning and Development Management system and LD portals. A self-managed learning and blended learning approach incorporates e-learning, open learning, line manager coaching and classroom based activities. Available LD solutions range from technical job specific products to enable staff to meet job requirements to generic skills and leadership development products to enable personal development or to increase staff capabilities.
	The list of the available DWP corporate generic skills and business specific technical e-learning and classroom based activities have been placed in the Library.
	DWP civil servants have access to all of the LD solutions shown in the attached files provided subject to line manager approval that there is a business need for the LD solution and that the training offered is relevant to the individual member of staffs job role. We are unable to provide specific details of which LD courses have been undertaken by civil servants in the last 12 months as this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Where there is no in-house provision for LD, DWP has procurement processes in place, through which external providers and LD solutions can be brought insuch as contracts with (a) Parity to provide PRINCE 2 and Programme Management, (b) Happy Computers to provide generic IT solutions e.g. Microsoft Excel, Word etc.

Equality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services  (a) by the Department and  (b) within the sectors for which he has policy responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to age equality, and providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. The Department's published equality schemes 2008 to 2011 (which can be viewed at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/equalityschemes/progress. asp) include commitments on age.
	The Department will review its policies and practices on age equality in the light of the Government's proposals for its Equality Bill. The document A Framework for a Fairer FutureThe Equality Bill published 26 June (Cm 7431 available at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/publications/frameworkforafairerfuture.doc) outlines the steps which will be taken to streamline and strengthen the law.
	In 2006 the Government introduced legislation prohibiting unjustified direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and vocational training. Age Positive seeks to promote the business benefits to employers of employing older people as part of a mixed age workforce and challenge the ageist myths that some employers still believe.
	The Department has been putting in place a number of initiatives to improve older people's quality of life. Through LinkAge Plus pilots, we have brought together a range of Government Departments, agencies and voluntary and community organisations to provide a seamless range of services including housing, transport and volunteering.
	We are running face to face pilots to test how best to deliver the information and guidance available to older workers on their choice for work and retirement.

Foreign Workers: Industrial Health and Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the incidence of work-related injuries and illnesses to foreign migrant workers employed in the construction and tourism industries in the United Kingdom since January 2005.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 30 June 2008
	 Current data sources, principally the Labour Force Survey and Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995, do not allow such estimates to be made due to limitations in the quality of data captured regarding foreign or migrant workers. HSE is currently reviewing evidence about the degree of risk to which foreign and migrant workers are exposed.
	HSE does have limited data on fatalities to foreign/migrant workers in construction. The reporting year for workplace injury and ill-health statistics runs from 1 April to 31 March. HSE Construction Division statistics show that for the 2005-06 reporting year of 60 worker fatalities in the construction industry, five were foreign/migrant workers and in 2006-07 of 77 (provisional) worker fatalities in the construction industry, eight were foreign/migrant workers.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on age additions to incapacity benefit in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer  6 June 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefits age additions expenditure 
			million, nominal terms 
			 2002-03 590 
			 2003-04 600 
			 2004-05 620 
			 2005-06 630 
			 2006-07 640 
			 2007-08 (estimated outturn) 660 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include age additions payable to recipients of incapacity benefit, ex-invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million.

Jobcentre Plus: Training

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of each training course offered by Jobcentre Plus was on the latest date for which figures are available; how long each course lasted; and how many people have taken each course since their inception.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Jobcentre Plus: Training

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been allocated to Jobcentre Plus for training staff on the Employment and Support Allowance.

Stephen Timms: The introduction of employment and support allowance and associated budget is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 7 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how much has been allocated to Jobcentre Plus for training on Employment and Support Allowance. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	A range of job roles are affected by Employment and Support Allowance. People in these job roles will complete tailored training designed and developed to provide detailed knowledge of the new Allowance and work focused regime and to operate the new business IT systems and processes. Our Programme budget to develop and deliver this Learning and Development is 12 million covering two operational years.
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Manufacturing Industries: Industrial Health and Safety

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on a possible relationship between contact with semiconductor production materials and certain types of cancers.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 July 2008
	 : The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commissioned its own statisticians or external researchers to undertake the following studies, which have been completed and published:
	A study of 'Cancer among current and former workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock';
	A 'Further update of cancer incidence and cancer mortality in a cohort of semiconductor workers'; and
	A 'Feasibility study into the establishment of a retrospective cohort study of workers in the British semiconductor industry'.
	A 'Follow-up investigation into cancer at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.' is ongoing.
	These projects have been the subject of independent scientific peer review during the course of the research and/or in the course of publication in the scientific literature.

New Deal Schemes

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who have found jobs through the New Deal for  (a) young people,  (b) 25 plus,  (c) disabled people,  (d) older people and  (e) lone parents.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of individuals who have found jobs through certain new deal programmes. November 2007 
			   Number of individuals 
			 New deal for young people 806,490 
			 New deal 25 plus 323,330 
			 New deal for lone parents 554,300 
			 New deal for disabled people 172,460 
			 New deal 50 plus 181,140 
			  Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many existing claimants of incapacity benefit requested, but were declined, a place on a Pathways to Work programme in each year for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: All existing incapacity benefits claimants are free to volunteer for a place on the Pathways to Work programme. Between 1 per cent. and 2 per cent. of the caseload do so each year. We have no evidence that existing incapacity benefits customers have been declined a place.

Pathways to Work: Contracts

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the departmental commissioning strategy is applied when transferring work from one contractor to another under Pathways to Work.

Stephen Timms: The Department's commissioning strategy was published after the award of Pathways to Work contracts. However, in cases where work had to be transferred, for instance because a contractor became insolvent, the same overarching principles of ensuring a consistent and coherent service for the customers would have been applied.

Pathways to Work: Contracts

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps have been taken to improve service delivery by contractual providers to new clients under Pathways to Work; what contractual provisions he has imposed on A4e in the last 12 months; and what steps his Department has taken to improve the monitoring of contract providers.

Stephen Timms: The Department has implemented a number of initiatives to improve the management of contracts and of providers to achieve better performance and quality of delivery.
	The implementation of a revised Contract Management Framework, setting out the processes for monitoring departmental contracts, enables early identification of poor performance so remedial action can be put in place. A Supplier Relationship Management Team set up in April this year aims to develop strong, positive relationships with providers in order to help us improve delivery of services to customers. The new Commissioning Strategy, published on 28 February this year, includes a Code of Conduct which spells out the key values and principles of behaviour we expect of providers and which are essential for creating healthy, high performing supply chains. Additionally, the introduction of a star rating accreditation system for providers will enable the Department and welfare to work providers to understand and drive up performance.
	At the beginning of this year the Department agreed an improvement plan with A4e to address some issues with the delivery and management of their New Deal contract in Manchester. A4e has now successfully addressed all areas of concern.

Pensioners: Social Fund

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to make access to the Social Fund easier for older people;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Social Fund meets the needs of the poorest pensioners.

James Plaskitt: We have recently carried out some research looking at the interaction of older people with the Social Fund in particular with regard to community care grants. The information obtained from that research is currently being evaluated. When we receive the final evaluation report we will study the recommendations closely before deciding the way forward.

Poverty: Children

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to make progress towards the Government's targets on child poverty reduction; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We have succeeded in arresting and reversing the rising trend of child poverty, with 600,000 children lifted above the line in the past decade. On Budget day we published Ending Child Poverty: everybody's business, setting out progress to date and the Government's strategy.

Social Security Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of lone parents living in poverty and entitled to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit or local housing allowance,  (b) council tax and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit or local housing allowance and  (d) income support, housing benefit or local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of couples with children with one or both parents working, living in poverty and who were entitled to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit or local housing allowance,  (b) council tax benefit and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit or local housing allowance and  (d) income support, housing benefit or local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of working lone parents entitled to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit or local housing allowance,  (b) council tax benefit and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit or local housing allowance and  (d) incom e support, housing benefit or local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of couples with children, where one or both parents are working, were entitled to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit/local housing allowance,  (b) council tax benefit and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (d) income support, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the numbers of entitled non-recipients of income-related benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseekers allowance (income-based) are published in the report, income related benefits estimates of take-up in 2006-07; copies of this and earlier reports in the series, are available in the Library.
	The published estimates consider each benefit in isolation. No estimates are available for the numbers of people who are entitled to but not receiving combinations of income-related benefits.

State Retirement Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the gross annual cost of increasing the basic state pension to 124.05; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the annual cost of increasing the basic state pension to 124.05, net of reductions in income-related benefits and additional tax revenue; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The estimated gross annual additional cost of increasing the full rate of basic state pension to 124.05 per week is around 18 billion in 2008-09.
	The estimated net annual additional cost of increasing the full rate of basic state pension to 124.05 per week, net of both reductions in income related benefits and additional tax revenue, is around 13 billion in 2008-09.
	 Notes:
	1. The estimate is in 2008-09 prices and has been rounded to the nearest billion.
	2. The estimate refers to the UK and overseas
	3. Reductions in income related benefit expenditure and additional tax revenue have been estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model.

Unemployment: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures to reduce  (a) child poverty and  (b) worklessness in Regent's Park and Kensington North constituency.

Stephen Timms: Work is the best route out of poverty. For example, children in working households are much less likely to be in poverty than those living in households where no one is working. The Government have made considerable progress in tackling worklessness through national back to work programmes such as new deal as well as local initiatives like the London Childcare Affordability Pilots.
	Since 1997 claimant unemployment in the Regent's Park and Kensington North constituency has fallen by 55 per cent. and the number of lone parents claiming benefit has fallen by 13 per cent. The new deal has helped into work over 5,000 people in the constituency, 1,000 of whom have been helped by the new deal for lone parents. The proportion of children living in families dependent on out of work benefits has fallen by 2.4 percentage points from 45.4 per cent. in 2004 to 43 per cent. in 2007. Information on levels of poverty are not available below Government office regional level.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 431W, on winter fuel payments, whether the extra money referred to will be exclusively for vulnerable groups.

Mike O'Brien: In winter 2008-09 most persons aged 60 or over in the qualifying week (15-21 September 2008) and ordinarily resident in Great Britain will be eligible for the additional payment to help with rising fuel bills. Persons aged 60-79 will receive up to 50 and persons aged 80 or over up to 100. Payments will be made alongside the 2008-09 winter fuel payment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Assaults on Police

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on police officers on duty in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England there were in each year since 2000.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 13 June 2008
	The requested data are collected on behalf of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and were published each year in their annual report up to 2004-05.
	The available data are given in the following table.
	There are plans to publish latest figures in the near future.
	
		
			  Assaults( 1)  on police officers 1999-2000 to 2004-05( 2,3) 
			  Force  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Lancashire 294 318 296 331 462 521 
			 England 11,807 (4)11,073 11,237 12,462 (5)11,569 12,796 
			 (1) Data collated on behalf of and published by HMIC. Serious assaults are those for which the charge would be under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Other assaults include those with minor or no injury. Recording practices may vary over time and between forces. (2) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. (3) HMIC have advised that assaults data will no longer be published in their annual report and that the data for 2004-05 is the last series of these data to be published there. (4) Metropolitan Police was unable to provide data in 2000-01. (5) Greater Manchester was unable to provide data in 2003-04.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to inform applicants or their legal representatives when their case is being considered by the Case Resolution Directorate, if questionnaires have not been sent to the applicant; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 June 2008, Official Report, column 332W.

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unresolved asylum applications are not being considered under the New Asylum Model; and by what date she plans to resolve unresolved asylum applications not being considered under the New Asylum Model.

Liam Byrne: We have previously estimated that there are around 400,000 to 450,000 electronic and paper records of unresolved asylum applications that are not being considered under the New Asylum Model, although this is difficult to assess accurately as many case records are dependants, duplicates or errors. This figure does not therefore equate to numbers of asylum applicants. At the end of November 2007, our total conclusions stand at around 52,000 cases. We have made good progress and remain committed and on track to conclude these cases by summer 2011. Lin Homer will shortly update the Home Affairs Select Committee on performance over the last six months.

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dependants are included on asylum applications that are to date unresolved and not being considered under the New Asylum Model; and of these how many are under 18 years of age.

Liam Byrne: To analyse the whole pool for this information would incur disproportionate costs. Further, it would be difficult to provide an accurate estimate given the errors present in the database. Of the 52,000 cases that were concluded by November 2007, around 10,000 were dependants, although this gives no indication of the number of dependants in the remaining caseload.

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) 5 cash support payments for children under 12 months,  (b) 3 cash support payments for children aged one to three years and (c) 3 cash support payments for women who are pregnant are paid under support arrangements for those with unresolved asylum applications.

Liam Byrne: The latest available information indicates that in the week commencing 23 June 2008 the numbers of extra cash support payments ordered for persons in receipt of support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 were: 1,230 payments for children aged under 12 months, 2,498 payments for children aged one to three years and 74 cash support payments for pregnant women. It is estimated that about 5 per cent. of payments ordered in any one week are not collected.
	This is based on management information which is not a national statistic and is subject to change.

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cash support payments are paid to  (a) single people aged between 16 and 18 years and  (b) single people under 16 years of age under support arrangements for those with unresolved asylum applications.

Liam Byrne: The latest available information indicates that in the week commencing 23 June 2008 there were 709 persons aged 16 or 17 years and 10,784 persons aged under 16 in receipt of support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for whom cash payments were ordered. It is estimated that about 5 per cent. of payments ordered in any one week are not collected.
	This is based on management information which is not a national statistic and is subject to change. It does not cover unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are supported by local authorities.

Asylum

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms her Department has in place to monitor the treatment of failed asylum seekers after they return to their home country.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency does not proactively monitor the treatment of individual failed asylum seekers who return to their home country unless there are exceptional circumstances that warrant doing so. Rather, we do not return those who are at risk.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on asylum, how many dependants of asylum seekers received indefinite leave to remain as a result of the October 2003 exercise.

Liam Byrne: Information on the dependants of asylum claimants who were granted leave to remain under the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Information on principal asylum claimants who were granted leave to remain under the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise is available from Table 12.1 in the annual Statistical Bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

Asylum: Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from Somalia  (a) arrived in the UK,  (b) sought asylum,  (c) were granted refugee status and  (d) were deported to Somalia in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 July 2008
	The latest available information requested is shown in the following tables. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. Removals do not necessarily relate to refused applications decided in the same period. Destination data for persons removed from the UK have only been collated since 2004, so this information is not available for earlier years. Removal figures only relate to those removed to Somalia and not to other destinations. Leave to enter the UK data are not yet available for 2007.
	Information on immigration control is published annually and asylum information is published annually and quarterly. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	
		
			  Total Somalia nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom, 2002 to 2006( 1) 
			   Number of journeys 
			 2002 10,200 
			 2003 7,460 
			 2004 5,330 
			 2005 5,610 
			 2006 3,540 
			 ( 1)  Provisional figures. Rounded to three significant figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  Asylum applications( 1)  received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions( 2)  on applications, 2003 to 2007, nationals of Somalia . Principal applicants 
			   Applications 
			   Total  Port  In country 
			 2003 5,090 660 4,430 
			 2004 2,585 305 2,280 
			 2005 1,760 250 1,510 
			 2006(3) 1,845 245 1,600 
			 2007(3) 1,620 265 1,350 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions 
			   Total decisions  Grants of asylum  Grants of ELR( 4)  Grants of HP( 4)  Grants of DL( 4)  Total refusals  Certified refusals  Other refusals  3rd ctry refusals( 5)  Non-compliance  refusals( 6) 
			 2003 6,050 1,665 160 5 390 3,835 140 3,140 90 465 
			 2004 3,275 455 n/a 10 455 2,355 (7) 1,930 235 190 
			 2005 1,850 660 n/a 5 190 1,000 0 830 100 70 
			 2006(3) 1,725 655 n/a 5 160 905 (7) 695 160 50 
			 2007(3) 1,615 795 n/a 5 105 710 5 595 80 35 
			 (1 )Figures rounded to nearest 5. (2 )Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3 )Provisional figures. (4 )Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003. (5 )Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country. (6 )Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview. (7 )1 or 2.  Note:  n/a = not applicable.  Source: Immigration Research and Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns( 1, 2)  of Somali asylum applicants, excluding dependants removed to Somalia, 2004 to 2007( 3) 
			  Number of removals 
			   Somali asylum applicants removed to Somalia 
			 2004 25 
			 2005 15 
			 2006(4) 40 
			 2007(4) 35 
			 (1 )Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. (2 )Removals since 2005 include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (3 )Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. (4 )Provisional figures.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications the Government has received from citizens of Zimbabwe in each of the last five years; how many of those applications were seeking protection from political persecution in each year; and how many people in both categories were  (a) granted and  (b) refused leave to remain in Britain.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows total Zimbabwean principal asylum applications and initial decisions, for each of the years 2003-07. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. The requested information on those seeking protection from political persecution is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Copies of asylum publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Asylum applications( 1)  received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions( 2)  on applications, 2003 to 2007, nationals of Zimbabwe 
			  Principal applications 
			   Applications  Decisions 
			   Of which : 
			  Zimbabwe  Total  Port  In country  Total decision  Grants of asylum  Grants of ELR( 3)  Grants of HP( 3)  Grants of DL( 3)  Refusals 
			 2003 3.295 715 2,580 4,190 875 10 5 20 3,285 
			 2004 2,065 395 1,665 2,560 220 n/a * 25 2,310 
			 2005 1,075 165 910 1,040 80 n/a * 15 945 
			 2006(4) 1,650 165 1,480 1,680 140 n/a * 30 1,510 
			 2007(4) 1,755 265 1,490 1,425 250 n/a * 20 1,155 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) Figures rounded to nearest 5, (* = 1 or 2). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003. (4) Provisional figures.  Source:  Immigration Research and Statistics

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis those routes and carriers which will utilise other passenger information data through e-Borders were selected.

Liam Byrne: The capture of other passenger information (OPI) is determined by multi-agency assessment that analyses the risks posed from a range of different routes. The route selection assessment will also be capable of adapting to and underpinning emerging risks.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects a fully automated authority to carry capability to be included in the eBorders programme.

Liam Byrne: Once the first, manual, phase has been implemented, there will be an opportunity to assess the impact and costs, before consideration will be given to seeking the required funding to implement the fully automated response.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects all flights into the UK to be covered by manual authority to carry capabilities.

Liam Byrne: As part of the public consultation for the e-Borders programme, the Government have committed to a separate public consultation on the Authority to Carry scheme.
	Following that consultation, and in due course, the Government will bring forward the regulations required to implement an Authority to Carry scheme under s124 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 for parliamentary approval.

Community Relations: Extremism

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on what her Department's share of the pledged 12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities will be spent; and over what period of time her Department's share of the funding will be spent;
	(2)  how the pledged 12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities will be divided between Departments involved.

Tony McNulty: The 12.5 million from the Home Office to help prevent extremism in communities will be spent on funding projects specifically to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation. New schemes will include:
	1 million for the Home Office to extend police-led multi agency projects to identify and support vulnerable individuals at risk of being targeted by violent extremists.
	3.5 million to Youth Offending Teams and Youth Secure Establishments on new work to prevent violent extremism, focused on supporting young individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
	7.25 million to the National Offender Management Service and partner agencies to do further work in prisons and the community to tackle vulnerability to radicalisation among offenders
	750,000 for the Home Office to fund further grassroots projects aimed at tackling radicalisation.
	All of the 12.5 million pledged will be spent in the 2008-09 financial year.

Counter-Terrorism Bill

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she plans to provide to the House under her proposals to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days before each decision on a case; and what assessment she has made of the effect of giving such information on national security and the confidentiality of intelligence.

Tony McNulty: h olding answer 10 June 2008
	 : Under Clause 27 of the Counter-Terrorism Bill, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary must, within two days or as soon as practicable after making an order that the reserve power is exercisable, make a written statement declaring that she is satisfied:
	that a grave exceptional terrorist threat has occurred or is occurring;
	the reserve power is needed for the purpose of investigating the threat and bringing to justice those responsible;
	the need for that power is urgent; and
	the provision in the order is compatible with ECHR.
	The statement may include any other information relevant to making the order. At the same time the written statement is made, Parliament will receive a copy of the independent legal advice obtained under Clause 25 of the Bill.
	On making the order my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary would notify the chairs of the Home Affairs Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Intelligence and Security Committee and provide them with a copy of the report of the DPP and police on the operational need for the extension and the full legal advice obtained under Clause 25 of the Bill. This would be provided on Privy Council terms.
	We assess that the provision of the information outlined above will not have any adverse impact on national security or the confidentiality of intelligence.

Crime: Business

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department was consulted about plans for the national staff dismissal register created by Action Against Business Crime while her Department was part-funding the organisation.

Liam Byrne: The National Staff Dismissal Register is a commercial initiative of the Action Against Business Crime Group (AABC).
	The Home Office, between 2004 and 2007, provided more than 1 million of funding to the group to set up and maintain 120 business crime reduction partnerships in towns and cities across England and Wales. All Home Office funding ceased in March 2007.
	The Home Office has not been consulted about the setting up of the National Staff Dismissal Register and will not be involved in any way in its operation.

Crime: Closed Circuit Television

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases CCTV evidence was used to detect a crime in each year since 1998.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally. There are a number of published studies on the effectiveness of CCTV in prevention and detection. One study, Effect of urban closed circuit television on assault injury and violence detection (Injury Prevention 2003; 9: 312-316), demonstrates the effectiveness of CCTV in the detection of violent crime. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library.
	We plan to develop standardised national key performance indicators relating to the use of public space CCTV across all associated agencies, including CCTV operators, the police and the courts through the National CCTV Strategy.

Demonstrations: Parliament Square

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications have been made for authorisation for demonstrations in Parliament Square on 15 June 2008 under section 133 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 13 June 2008
	 According to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, there was an application for an authorisation for a demonstration in Parliament Square under section 133 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act on 15 June by the Stop the War Coalition.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how frequently her Department restates the asset values of its building estate.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office Land and Buildings assets are restated to current value using professional valuations every five years and in the intervening years by the use of published indices appropriate to the type of land and building. Further information can be found in the notes to the Department's published resource accounts.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by her Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Records are kept of new builds and major refurbishments above 1 million. There were none in this period. In 2007-08 two new builds were acquired through leases where design and construction was to the Department's specification. One of these was rated BREEAM Excellent, the other Very Good. Both contained leading edge sustainability measures, but one lost points because of the requirement to provide car parking to a large number of operational staff working shifts from a location with limited public transport.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of 0.5 million were completed by her Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Liam Byrne: My Department records the number of its new builds and major refurbishments completed that are over 1 million in value. There were no such direct new builds or refurbishments recorded in this period.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by her Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office accounting system does not identify separately expenditure on cancelled conferences. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) civil servants,  (b) permanent staff and  (c) temporary staff work for (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

Liam Byrne: Details of permanent and temporary staff numbers for Home Office HQ, UKBA, IPS and CRB can be found on page 98 of the 2008 Home Office departmental report. The report is available on the Home Office website at the following address:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ho-annual-report-08

Dogs

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide a breakdown of the training and running costs for her Department and its agencies associated with products of animal origin detector dogs and their handlers in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Details of the number of products of animal origin detector dogs and a breakdown of training and running costs associated with these dogs and their handlers for the years 2003 to 2007 inclusive are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of dogs  Cost of outsourced training per course for up to four handlers (including supply of dogs) ()  In-house training (four months per dog)  (months)  Cost of acquiring dogs (some dogs were gifted to the Department) ()  Running costs (handler, food, vet, transport, etc.) () 
			 2003 2 15,000 4 (1) 92,000 
			 2004 6 30,000 8 5,000 234,000 
			 2005 10 (2) 8 11,300 306,000 
			 2006 11 (2) (3) (1) 296,000 
			 2007 11 (2) (3) (1) 296,000 
			 (1) No dogs acquired (2) No outsourced training (3) No in-house training 
		
	
	This represents hard costs of:
	
		
			
			 2003 107,000 
			 2004 269,000 
			 2005 317,300 
			 2006 296,000 
			 2007 296,000 
		
	
	The number of dogs column relates to dogs and handlers in situ in those years.

Driving Under Influence: Testing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she issues to police forces on  (a) training given to police officers in undertaking (i) field impairment tests and (ii) preliminary impairment tests and  (b) the frequency of refresher training; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not issue formal guidance to police officers nationally on field impairment tests, or refresher training. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department of Transport run a mandatory field impairment test (FIT) and drug recognition training (DRT) for police officers who wish to be authorised to conduct impairment testing in compliance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. Successful completion is based on the candidate's ability to pass an exam and demonstrate competence in impairment testing.
	Currently, only Hampshire Constabulary and Northamptonshire police are authorised by ACPO to provide formal FIT and DRT to police officers.

Emergency Calls

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what her policy is on whether the 999 emergency telephone number may be used to report all categories of crime; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent guidance her Department has issued to police forces on the categories of crime which may be reported via the 999 telephone number.

Tony McNulty: National call grades and definitions for use by the Police Service are covered by the Association of Chief Police Officers' National Call Handling Standards (NCHS). The standards indicate some minor crimes (for example, a stolen mobile telephone, vandalism, graffiti, abandoned cars and less serious types of antisocial behaviour) can be reported to the police through alternative mediums such as police force websites, confidential telephone hotlines or in person.
	The NCHS does not record the category of crime, but is designed to assist police call handlers define whether contact made should be treated as emergency or a non-emergency. An emergency response will invariably result in an immediate police response; a non-emergency contact means that the police response may not be immediate, and may encompass a range of solutions, some of which will not involve the attendance of a police officer at the scene.

Entry Clearances

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people identified by her Department as having been ineligible for a visa for entry into the United Kingdom were subsequently granted a visa incorrectly in the last five years and then  (a) were apprehended at port,  (b) were granted entry into the UK and subsequently apprehended,  (c) entered the UK and are at large and  (d) of whereabouts unknown.

Liam Byrne: The information requested could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records only at disproportionate cost.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by her Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office accounting systems do not identify separately the cost of food, nor the country of origin, so this information could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Fraud: Social Security Benefits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was recouped in fines for benefit fraud in England and Wales in each of the last two years (i) in total and (ii) broken down by region.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	There were 15,088 successful prosecutions for benefit fraud and sanctions by the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities in 2005-06 and 12,605 in 2006-07, the latest years for which figures are available.
	It is not possible, using current IT systems, to break down the value of financial penalties imposed or subsequently collected for individual offences.

Immigration

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will make a decision on the immigration status of Mr. Christian Ofori-Addo of Torquay.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 1 July 2008.

Immigration Controls

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which categories of immigration will not be covered by the points-based system.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 June 2008
	The points-based system will rationalise and simplify our existing system for controlling immigration by migrants who wish to work or study in the UK, so that only the migrants we need are allowed to come to Britain.
	The new system will not cover immigration routes that are unrelated to work or study. Thus it will not apply to visitors or to those applying as the family members of people settled in the UK, such as spouses. It will not apply to people seeking asylum or humanitarian protection here, or to those applying to stay into the UK after service with HM forces.
	Finally, there are several routes on which consultation is ongoing outside the PBS. These are Commonwealth citizens seeking to come here under the UK Ancestry provisions, people applying to stay here under the Long Residence Rules, those exercising rights of access to a child and retired persons of independent means.

Immigration Controls

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to create a dedicated EU passports channel at the UK border and immigration control points in the  (a) Gare du Midi, Brussels and  (b) Gare du Nord, Paris; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency currently operates four control points at the Eurostar terminal at Brussels Gare du Midi and six control points at the terminal at Paris Gare du Nord. In view of increasing passenger numbers the Gare du Nord is currently being redeveloped to provide eight control points.
	The efficiency of passenger clearance at the UK border is kept under review, and changes are made where they are considered to benefit passenger throughput, without having an adverse impact upon border security. The majority of passengers travelling to the UK on Eurostar services from Brussels and Paris are nationals of EU countries and all passengers, including those who are non-EU nationals, can be dealt with quickly without any segregation. There is consequently no dedicated EU channel at either station and currently no plan to introduce such a channel.

Immigration Officers: Heathrow Airport

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what minimum staffing levels her Department has put in place for front line immigration officers at Heathrow Airport; and on how many shifts these levels have not been met in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: Staffing requirements for all ports, including Heathrow, are calculated using a workforce planning methodology which takes into account information provided by port operators on scheduling, predicted passenger loads and nationalities, and estimates of transaction times. Therefore every shift size is calculated individually.
	If there are a large number of cases being handled by a particular terminal, or a number of flights arrive together unexpectedly, local managers will seek to re-deploy staff from other tasks or from other terminals to meet the additional demand.
	There are some 13,000 different sized shifts per year at Heathrow and so the exact statistics which have been requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the business. It is also possible that this information could prove useful to those people seeking to circumvent our border controls, and so to release it might compromise the security of the UK border.

Immigration: Heathrow Airport

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the capacity is of the short-term holding facility at Heathrow Airport; and on how many occasions it has been  (a) reached and  (b) breached.

Liam Byrne: The capacity of each of the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow airport is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Terminal 1 45 
			 Terminal 2 39 
			 Terminal 3 42 
			 Terminal 4 40 
			 Terminal 5 88 
			 Queen's Building 36 
		
	
	The remainder of the information is not readily available and provision of a reply would be at disproportionate cost.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will hold discussions with her Sri Lankan counterpart on preventing the transfer of funds from the UK to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

Tony McNulty: The Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, have been listed as proscribed as a terrorist organisation from 2001 under the Terrorism Act 2000. It is a criminal offence for a person to belong to or to invite support for the LTTE in the UK. The UK Government is in contact with the Sri Lankan authorities, law enforcement agencies and other Government Departments concerning preventing the transfer of funds from this country to the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State (Borders and Immigration) plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Salisbury of 9 May 2008 on the visit of a Cambodian national to the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member for Salisbury on 27 June 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Manchester Central of 25 April 2008, re TB, reference M7953/8.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 July 2008
	The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Meg Hillier) wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 July 2008.

Mr. K.M.

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reach a decision in the case of Mr. K.M (Home Office ref M1198907).

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 30 June 2008.

Passports: Biometrics

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the  (a) range,  (b) purpose and  (c) cost of the antenna on the new biometric passport.

Meg Hillier: The purpose of the antenna in the UK biometric passport is to allow the chip to communicate with border control readers in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. In terms of range, these requirements call for the biometric passport to have a read range of up to 10 centimetres from the reader.
	It is not possible to separately identify the cost of the antenna as it is part of an integrated component provided by the chip silicon manufacturer.

Police: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers,  (b) special constables and  (c) police community support officers were based in Bournemouth in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The information requested is published annually in the supplementary tables of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series 'Police Service Strength, England and Wales'. The bulletins are available in the Library of the House, and can be downloaded from the publications link within the Research Development and Statistics directorate website located at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.html
	The most recent publication contains data as at 31 March 2007, and gives details of police officers and police community support officers. Details of specials constables are not included.
	As at 31 March 2007, there were 315 full-time equivalent police officers, 36 full-time equivalent police community support officers and 74 special constables in Bournemouth.
	Data for 31 March 2008 will be published on 22 July 2008.

Police: Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much sick pay was paid to police officers in each of the last five years; what proportion of police staffing expenditure this represented in each year; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by police officers was in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information is not collected centrally. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1322W, to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne).

Police: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to improve policing in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Since 1997, policing in Staffordshire, including Tamworth, has improved with additional investment in officer numbers, the introduction of police community support officers and neighbourhood policing teams and national initiatives designed to improve citizen focussed police and reduce police bureaucracy.
	We are taking forward the recommendations made by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, primarily in areas of overhauling the processes around Stop and Account, the RIPA review, and the use of technology to increase efficiency. Staffordshire constabulary is one of the four forces piloting radical new ways of reducing paperwork following Sir Ronnie's review.
	In terms of investment for Staffordshire police, the sum of general government support has risen from 110.3 million to 114.3 million, an increase of 3.6 per cent. Staffordshire had 2,271 police officers on 30 September 2007, an increase of 60 since 1997. There were also 225 police community support officers (PCSOs) and 1,293 police staff (an increase of 530 since 1997). Tamworth, part of the Trent Valley Division had 50 Police Community Support Officers and 417 police officers on 31 March 2007, an increase of 25 since March 2004.
	The Police Performance Assessment of 2006-07 showed Staffordshire to have built on the strong performance evident in the 2006 baseline assessment. The report shows strong delivery of performance including: two excellents for tackling serious crime and protecting the public and implementing neighbourhood policing; as well as four goods for tackling crime, protecting vulnerable people, satisfaction and fairness, and resources and efficiency.

Revenue and Customs: Shipping

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ships were searched by HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland ports in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The number of ships searched in Northern Ireland ports by HM Revenue and Customs specialist search teams in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Year ending 31 March:  Number 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 0 
			 2008 0 
		
	
	In addition to the searches carried out by these specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board commercial vessels arriving in UK ports, including Northern Ireland. These challenges and interventions vary in depth according to specific circumstances.

Revenue and Customs: Shipping

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ships were searched by HM Revenue and Customs in UK ports in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The number of ships searched in UK ports by HM Revenue and Customs specialist search teams in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Year ending 31 March:  Number 
			 2006 333 
			 2007 385 
			 2008 505 
		
	
	In addition to the searches carried out by these specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board commercial vessels arriving in UK ports. These challenges and interventions vary in depth according to specific circumstances.

Terrorism

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Islamic experts her Department employs to work on the Prevent aspect of the CONTEST strategy.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 December 2007
	The Home Office does not employ any Islamic experts. Expert advice on Islam and other religions is obtained from independent experts selected according to the precise matter at issue.
	The Home Office does have access to expert advice from the three Muslim advisers employed by the Communities and Local Government Department, as well as external partners.

Terrorism Act 2000

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she received the independent reviewer's report on the operation of the Terrorism Act 2000 in 2007.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 30 June 2008
	The first draft of Lord Carlile's report was received by the Home Office on 12 May. It was then circulated to stakeholders for them to check for factual accuracy and the last amendments were received from Lord Carlile on 15 June.

Terrorism: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department has allocated to institutions working to counter terrorism in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District in 2008-09.

Tony McNulty: Information on the Home Office's forecast spending on protecting the public from terrorism for the current year and the CSR period are set out in chapter 5 of the 2008 departmental report, which can be found on the Home Office website at the following address:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ho-annual-report-08
	Home Office spend on counter-terrorism is not split and managed by allocation to constituency or district boundaries. Allocation of funding by the Home Office alone would not reflect the true expenditure on this work as other Government Departments and agencies contribute to their delivery. Further information on total Government spending on counter-terrorism is not held by the Home Office.

UK Border Agency: Labour Turnover

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staff turnover rate was of each grade of immigration personnel in the UK Border Agency and its predecessor organisations in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The turnover rates for employees of UKBA, (this does not include UK Visas), and its predecessor organisations, for each grade, for each year, for which records are held, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Turnover rate 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Administrative Assistant 18.90 11.20 9.62 
			 Assistant Immigration Officer 3.28 3.84 5.42 
			 Administrative Officer 8.84 7.78 9.01 
			 Chief Immigration Officer 2.09 1.95 2.85 
			 Executive Officer 6.22 3.57 4.05 
			 Grade 6 30.34 21.43 4.41 
			 Grade 7 16.31 8.73 2.77 
			 Higher Executive Officer 6.95 4.58 3.33 
			 Immigration Inspector 2.74 2.20 3.49 
			 Immigration Officer 3.12 1.77 2.25 
			 Senior Civil Service 45.24 55.26 10.87 
			 Senior Executive Officer 10.31 6.12 1.61 
			 Miscellaneous 67.09 66.30  
			 Total 7.91 5.57 5.24 
			 Notes:  1. The figures shown in this table are for headcount. 2. The turnover rate has been calculated on the average number of employees in the year. The information is given by grade equivalent.

UK Border Agency: Telephone Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library telephone and fax numbers of desk officers at the UK Visas with the UK Border Agency upon which hon. Members may contact a member of staff directly or leave a message which will affect a response; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The UK Border Agency has a dedicated MPs' Hotline telephone service for hon. Members. The Hotline operates from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 10.30 am to 6.00 pm on Fridays.
	The telephone and fax numbers have been placed in the Library of the House.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much timber and timber products were procured by her Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Liam Byrne: While there is no FLEGT licensing schemes yet in place, the Home Office actively seeks to buy all wood and wood products (including furniture) from legal and sustainable sources. Data on quantity are not recorded centrally and there is no longer a requirement for expenditure to be recorded. We have data for two years within the last five: these are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   
			   Value of timber from legal and sustainable sources  Value of timber products from legal and sustainable sources. 
			 2003-04 1,252,000 3,489,986 
			 2004-05 292,000 1,209,000 
			 (1) Includes Prison Service

TREASURY

Banking Services: Construction

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps  (a) his Department and  (b) the Office of Government Commerce is taking to promote the use of project bank accounts.

Angela Eagle: OGC, an independent Office of HM Treasury, together with the Public Sector Construction Client's Forum (PSCCF) and key industry stakeholders, developed and published the Guide to best Fair Payment practices on 19 September 2007. The use of Project Bank Accounts (PBA) is one of a number of approaches recommended in that document to facilitate improved payment practice.
	Since the start of January 2008 all new central Government projects have been required to adhere to the OGC guidance and have a Fair Payment charter in place (that payments are made within 30 days). Whether this is achieved through the use of a Project Bank Account, or by other means, will need to be considered by clients on a case-by-case basis.
	OGC funded the development of training on the use of Project Bank Accounts and promoted their use at a series of roadshows around the country. OGC is encouraging Departments to identify suitable projects where Project Bank Accounts could be used effectively. OGC will be monitoring the take-up of Project Bank Accounts until 2010 and will publish its findings soon after.

Child Benefit

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time for new applications for child benefit to be processed was in the last period for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of trends in the average time; how many applicants have not had their child benefit payments activated; and what estimate he has made of the amount outstanding for payment.

Jane Kennedy: Information on average times is not available.
	In 2007-08 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) processed around two-thirds of all new child benefit claims within five working days and over 90 per cent. within 36 working days.
	As of the end of May 2008, about 90,000 child benefit claims were on hand.

Child Tax Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families received child tax credit in  (a) England,  (b) each region and  (c) each London local authority area in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2008.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the average number of recipient families with tax credits, by country, region and local authority for 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 are available in the HMRC publications Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised Annual Awards. Geographical Analyses, for each relevant financial year. These are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	The same information for 2007-08 is not yet available because awards have not yet been finalised. However, estimates of the number of recipient families with tax credits, based on provisional awards, as at 5 April 2008, are available in the HMRC snapshot publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical analyses. April 2008. This is also available on the HMRC website at the same address.
	We do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have taken up childcare vouchers in each year since the scheme's inception.

Jane Kennedy: There are no official data collected in relation to the number of employers who offer child care voucher schemes or the number of employees or families who receive them. Employers who offer child care vouchers are not required to provide these data to HMRC. This is consistent with the wider objective of reducing burdens on business.
	HMRC commissions periodic research into the level of uptake among employers and employees. The latest research was the survey conducted by the National Centre for Social Research who published their report in December 2006.
	This research estimates that 36 per cent. of employees have access to employer supported child care.
	The full report can be seen on the HMRC website at the following link:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report23-final.pdf

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure the Office of Government Commerce publishes the names of central Government construction clients who do not pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Angela Eagle: Each Department should publish such performance data, for all its procurement activity, in its annual report and accounts.
	OGC does not keep a central record of departmental performance across central Government.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of central Government construction clients pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Angela Eagle: OGC does not hold a central record of departmental performance across central Government. However, Departments are required to publish a summary of their payment performance for all their procurement activity in their annual report and accounts.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) monitors the implementation of the fair payment initiative's commitment to more efficient payment procedures by central government construction clients; and when the OGC intends to report on the matter to his Department.

Angela Eagle: To measure progress in implementing the fair payment initiative OGC has commissioned an independent body to report on progress through to 2010, as announced in July 2007 and available at:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/news_2007_7409.asp.
	OGC will subsequently publish the findings.

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have access to his Department's IT infrastructure at their home.

Angela Eagle: Our records show that 564 staff are able access the Treasury's IT infrastructure from their homes.

Economic and Monetary Union

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions in domestic legislation enable the UK to take action pursuant to measures adopted by the Council of Ministers under article 59 of the Treaty establishing the European Community to safeguard the operation of economic and monetary union from serious difficulties caused by movements of capital to and from third countries; whether  (a) the UK,  (b) the Channel Islands and  (c) the Isle of Man are considered third countries for the purposes of this article; what voting provisions will apply to this article in the Council of Ministers following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; if he will make it his policy to oppose any proposed measure under this article which would affect the liquidity and competitiveness of the UK's financial system; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Government are committed to promoting economic prosperity by maintaining financial stability, internationally and in the UK, promoting global prosperity, and promoting a fair and efficient financial sector. The Government would take these objectives into consideration before they opposed or accepted any proposed measure.
	The Enterprise Act 2002 covers a range of enterprise measures aimed at strengthening the UK's competition framework, including monitoring and control of inwards investment from third countries. This builds on competition and inward investment controls for third countries laid out in the 1998 Competition Act through specific measures to act upon anti-competitive agreements, cartels and abuses of a dominant position.
	Neither  (a) the UK,  (b) the Channel Islands nor  (c) the Isle of Man are considered third countries for the purposes of article 59 of the treaty establishing the European Community.
	Article 66 of the treaty of Lisbon concerns the functioning of the European Union. Under this Article, the Council of Ministers would act by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Central Bank.

Equality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services  (a) by his Department and  (b) within the sectors for which he has policy responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Government set out their plans for taking a power to ban age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on 26 June 2008.
	To help business and public authorities prepare, and to make sure the law does not prevent justified differences in treatment for different age groups, there will be further consultation on the design of the legislation and a transition period before the new legal protections from age discrimination are implemented.
	Within HM Treasury, officials are currently developing a Single Equality Scheme that will include details on how the Department will promote age equality for all its employees. This will be published in due course.

Financial Action Task Force

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the UK, Brazil and the Netherlands joint paper presented to the June 2008 plenary of the Financial Action Task Force.

Kitty Ussher: The UK, Brazil and Netherlands joint paper that was presented at the June 2008 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary is an internal FATF paper and not publicly available.

Financial Services Authority

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has the power to require the Financial Services Authority to undertake consultations.

Kitty Ussher: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is operationally independent of Government. This statutory independence means that the Government does not have any control over the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Government Departments: Procurement

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Office of Government Commerce review on procurement to be published.

Angela Eagle: OGC carries out a number of reviews on procurement.

Housing: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 913W, on housing: valuation, if he will place in the Library a list of the unique numbers given to each live locality within each billing authority area.

Jane Kennedy: The VOA has developed a capability to retrieve this information at reasonable cost and so a list, giving the position on 4 April 2008, has been placed in the Library.

Insurance: Fees and Charges

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of the Association of British Insurers to discuss the level of administrative and cancellation fees charged by the insurance industry.

Kitty Ussher: Insurance firms are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which was established by the Government in 2001 to act as the UK's independent financial regulator. As part of their supervision of insurance firms, the FSA is responsible for ensuring that customers are treated fairly.
	Customers who are unable to resolve complaints with insurance firms regarding administrative and cancellation fees can make a complaint free of charge to the independent Financial Ombudsman Service.

Insurance: Fees and Charges

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet members of the Competition Commission to discuss the fees charged by the insurance industry.

Kitty Ussher: The Competition Commission was set up by the Government in 1999 to act as an independent body to help ensure healthy competition between companies in the UK.
	The Competition Commission only initiates inquiries after referral from another body such as the Office of Fair Trading.

Meat: Smuggling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much bush meat was seized on arrival into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: There is no precise definition of bush meat, which is generally understood to be the meat of wild animals hunted for food. Central Government statistical records of illegal meat seizures do not separately identify bush meat. HM Revenue and Customs record seizures of illegally imported meat and animal products as bush meat where this was how the owners described the meat to customs officials. Their central records show the total quantities of such meat seized on arrival in Great Britain for each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			   Weight seized (k g) 
			 2003-04 1,748 
			 2004-05 2,812 
			 2005-06 2,534 
			 2006-07 3,399 
			 2007-08 1,506

Money Laundering

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what consultation was undertaken on the process of listing Chartered bodies who are able to regulate their members under the money laundering regulations;
	(2)  what criteria were used to determine whether Chartered bodies could be added to a list of those bodies able to regulate their members under the money laundering regulations; who devised the criteria; and who decided who would be eligible for the list;
	(3)  for what reasons the Certified Public Accounts Association has not been recognised as regulator for its members under the new money laundering regulations.

Kitty Ussher: HM Treasury undertook two public consultations, in July 2006 and January 2007, on the implementation of the EU's Third Money Laundering Directive in the UK. These included information on proposed supervisory arrangements for the new Money Laundering Regulations, which came into force in December 2007.
	The Third Money Laundering Directive requires that bodies supervising compliance with a member state's money laundering regime must have adequate powers to do so, including the power to compel the production of any information in order to monitor such compliance and to perform checks. The directive also requires that supervisory bodies must have adequate resources to undertake the task. HM Treasury officials assessed the applications of potential supervisors against these requirements, taking into account a range of criteria, such as a body's experience of standard setting, compliance monitoring, and disciplining members; as well as their membership size, resource capacity, public interest objectives and relationships with other relevant bodies. Both the previous Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the hon. Member for Normanton (Ed Balls), and I approved the final supervisory arrangements. The Certified Public Accountants Association (CPAA) did not apply for supervisory status during either consultation period.
	Since their coming into force, HM Treasury have sought to avoid altering the new regulations, or the supervisory regime, in order to allow business adequate time to get used to the new requirements. As a matter of good practice, the Treasury intends to review the supervisory arrangements in 2009, once the regulations have been in force for a reasonable period.
	My officials corresponded with the CPAA during 2007 and 2008, explaining the policy approach taken on supervisory arrangements and the appointment of supervisors. Although the CPAA is not a supervisor for the purposes of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, they are able, if they so wish, to work with the relevant supervisors to assist their members' compliance with the regulations.

National Debt: National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt  (a) received from and  (b) returned to the National Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: I understand the question to relate to  (a) the annual total of lottery operator-related income advanced to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRND) by the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF), and  (b) total annual drawdowns from the investment account made by distributing bodies.
	The figures (in  millions) set out in the following table are from 2000-01; for figures dating back before this period please contact Department for Culture, Media and Sport directly.
	
		
			  National Lottery Distribution Fund 
			   million 
			   Received from  Drawdown by 
			 2000-01 1,540.7 1,855.1 
			 2001-02 1,652.8 1,709.6 
			 2002-03 1,381.7 1,893.3 
			 2003-04 1,310.4 1,912.6 
			 2004-05 1,353.5 1,704.3 
			 2005-06 1,381.5 1,843.6 
			 2006-07 1,209.1 1,616.0 
			 2007-08 1,203.0 1,429.9

National Minimum Wage

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the savings in working tax credit of an increase in the adult rate of the national minimum wage of  (a) 30 pence,  (b) 50 pence,  (c) 1,  (d) 1.50 and  (e) 2.00;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the (a) gross, (b) net costs and (c) savings to his Department of an increase in the adult rate of the national minimum wage of (i) 30 pence, (ii) 50 pence, (iii) 1, (iv) 1.50 and (v) 2.00.

Kitty Ussher: Changes in expenditure and revenue are not only dependent on the level of the national minimum wage, but also on the macroeconomic effects of an increase to the national minimum wage.
	It is very difficult to reliably estimate the savings induced by an increase of the minimum wage.

Public Expenditure: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure in the Thames Gateway area there was in each year since 1 April 2003, broken down by local government administrative area; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not publish expenditure data at the local authority level. The lowest level at which data for Government expenditure is available is by region. Thames Gateway cuts across three different regions including the East, South East and London. Total identifiable expenditure on services in these regions can be found in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2008 (HC 489). Please see the following link for an electronic copy of PESA 2008.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/A/7/pesa0809_chap09. pdf

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs offices have been closed in  (a) London,  (b) the South East,  (c) the South West,  (d) the East,  (e) the East Midlands,  (f) the West Midlands,  (g) Yorkshire and Humber,  (h) the North West,  (i) the North East,  (j) Scotland,  (k) Wales and  (l) Northern Ireland since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC was formed in April 2005 from the two former revenue Departments, Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, in order to achieve synergies and efficiencies through modernisation of its business operations and rationalisation of its estate.
	HMRC have around 85,000 staff currently working in over 600 offices across nearly 300 towns and cities. HMRC's workforce change programme is designed to modernise its operations by restructuring its office accommodation in line with future business needs.
	Information on office closures from 1997 to March 2001 is available only at disproportionate cost. The number of HM Revenue and Customs offices, and previously Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise offices, that have been closed in each region since April 2001 is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Region  Offices closed from April 2001 
			 London 37 
			 South East 35 
			 South West 24 
			 East 18 
			 East Midlands 6 
			 West Midlands 17 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 7 
			 North West 24 
			 North East 12 
			 Scotland 20 
			 Wales 6 
			 Northern Ireland 5 
			 Total 211

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of service for staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor organisations is at each of its locations in Scotland.

Jane Kennedy: The average length of service (in the civil service) of the staff currently employed by HM Revenue and Customs at each of its locations in Scotland is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Location  Average length of service (years) 
			 Aberdeen 22.97 
			 Ayr 25.29 
			 Bathgate 2.83 
			 Buckie 19.72 
			 Coatbridge 26.1 
			 Cumbernauld 13.81 
			 Dumbarton 19.83 
			 Dumfries 24.89 
			 Dundee 7.6 
			 Dunfermline 27.97 
			 Dunoon 21.92 
			 East Kilbride 14.17 
			 Edinburgh 20.01 
			 Elgin 28.56 
			 Falkirk 26.46 
			 Galashiels 27.35 
			 Glasgow 15.36 
			 Glenrothes 16.55 
			 Grangemouth 23.69 
			 Greenock 19.05 
			 Hamilton 24.91 
			 Hawick 25.22 
			 Inverness 22.29 
			 Irvine 26.74 
			 Kirkcaldy 27.14 
			 Lerwick 36.72 
			 Livingston 8.99 
			 Motherwell 24.12 
			 Oban 36.31 
			 Paisley 24.02 
			 Perth 25.07 
			 Peterhead 25.33 
			 Prestwick 35.61 
			 Rothesay 25.08 
			 Stirling 23.45 
			 Ullapool 30.02 
			 Wick 24.12

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the running costs were for each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: A specific breakdown for each office cannot be supplied due for reasons of commercial sensitivity relating to the accommodation and facility contract between HMRC and its estate partner, Mapeley.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 708W.

Revenue and Customs: Vacancies

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs posts at Civil Service Grade 6 and above are vacant.

Jane Kennedy: On 2 July 2008 there were 21 advertised vacancies for posts at G6 and above in HMRC.

Revenue and Customs: Visits Abroad

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which overseas destinations were visited by HM Revenue and Customs staff in the financial year 2007-08; how many visits were made to each destination; and what the cost to the public purse was of visits to each destination.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC currently have around 85,000 staff. From information available, the total cost for overseas business travel made by HMRC employees for the financial period 2007-08 is 1,751,257.
	The duties of HMRC staff cover a wide range of posts and some roles in particular require overseas travel and accommodation in support of key departmental objectivesfor example, EU policy development, enforcement of prohibition and restrictions and mutual administrative assistance.
	In relation to hotels booked through HMRC's travel contract, the contract commenced in April 2007. However, the hotel element of the contract was not implemented until July 2007. Therefore the figures provided in the total above relate to the period July 2007 to March 2008 only. The spend for bookings in the period April 2007 to June 2007 is not available except at disproportionate cost.
	For policy and operational reasons we are unable to disclose which overseas destinations HMRC employees travel to.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the publication of the HM Revenue and Customs Workforce Change proposals on 11 June, what the estimated accommodation cost savings are for  (a) HM Revenue and Customs Cherry Grove Haverfordwest and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs Pembroke Dock per annum.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC's) Workforce Change programme is designed to modernise HMRC's operations by restructuring its workforce and accommodation in line with future business needs.
	The gross accommodation cost savings from full vacation of the HMRC offices at Cherry Grove, Haverfordwest and Custom House, Pembroke Dock are estimated to be up to 340,000 per annum. There would be some short-term offsetting costs but, more importantly, greater ongoing business efficiency savings arising from the wider restructuring of which these proposals are a part.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with  (a) Welsh Assembly Government officials and  (b) officials of other Departments officials on the proposed closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices at (i) Cherry Grove Haverfordwest and (ii) Pembroke Dock.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs through its Workforce Change teams has regular meetings with Welsh Assembly officials and proactively engages with other Government Departments about staffing issues across the whole of Wales.

Smuggling: Fuels

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of fuel smuggling-related detections in Northern Ireland made in each of the last three years were made by  (a) the Police Service of Northern Ireland and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs;
	(2)  what percentage of fuel smuggling-related detections in England and Wales in each of the last three years were made by HM Revenue and Customs.

Angela Eagle: The numbers of fuel related detections by HMRC in the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Detections  Northern Ireland  England and Wales  Total 
			 2007-08 1,158 2,759 3,917 
			 2006-07 1,190 2,683 3,873 
			 2005-06 932 2,536 3,468 
		
	
	HMRC do not centrally record fuel smuggling detections made by other agencies and therefore cannot estimate the percentages requested.

Smuggling: Fuels

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles were seized by the authorities in Northern Ireland as a result of being used for smuggling cross border fuel in each of the last three years; what the total amount of fuel seized from these vehicles was; how many arrests were made in such seizures; and how many convictions were secured as a result of these arrests.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  As at 31 March each year  Vehicles detected smuggling fuel into Northern Ireland  Fuel smuggled into Northern Ireland and seized (litres) 
			 2005 108 301,020 
			 2006 67 297,260 
			 2007 37 240,600 
			 2008 53 247,303

Tax Allowances: Taxis

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will adjust the tax free mileage allowance for taxis and minicabs in line with changes in fuel prices.

Angela Eagle: Tax free mileage allowances are available to employees who use their own motor vehicles for business journeys and are reimbursed by their employer for doing so. They do not affect drivers of taxis and minicabs who are in most cases self-employed.

Taxation: Fuels

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Exchequer received from  (a) fuel duty and  (b) value added tax on fuel in the last 12 months.

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what level of duty was applied to the highest-selling variants of  (a) unleaded petrol and  (b) diesel in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what proportion of the pump price of the highest-selling variants of  (a) unleaded petrol and  (b) diesel accrued to HM Treasury in (i) duty, (ii) VAT and (iii) both taxes combined was in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: I refer the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire and the hon. Member for Angus to the answer I gave the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Campbell) on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 912W. The latest release of the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin details receipts to April this year. Table 4.1.2 of the latest release of Quarterly Energy Prices published by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform contains retail petroleum product price datathis can be viewed at www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices.
	HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

Taxation: Oil

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue from oil movements was paid to HM Revenue and Customs by  (a) Chevron Pembroke Refinery,  (b) Murco/Total Fina EG Refinery, Milford Haven and  (c) Sem Logistics Petro Plus/Milford Haven in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2005-06.

Angela Eagle: Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 does not permit HM Revenue and Customs to disclose information relating to the tax affairs of individual taxpayers.
	Historic and monthly excise duty receipts from total quantities of oil released for consumption can be found in table 3 of the HM Revenue and Customs Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin, a copy of which can be found at:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=bulloil

Taxation: Rebates

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has paid in tax rebates in each year since 1979.

Jane Kennedy: Information on income tax credits and repayments, other than those made through the self assessment system, is published in Table 2.9 on the HMRC website. A link to the most recent publication (covering the years 1996-97 to 2007-08) is as follows:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/t_receipt/table2-9.pdf
	Information for earlier years is not available in the same detail but the corresponding totals were:
	
		
			million 
			 1979-80 5,596 
			 1980-81 7,290 
			 1981-82 7,515 
			 1982-83 7,962 
			 1983-84 6,969 
			 1984-85 8,201 
			 1985-86 9,751 
			 1986-87 9,824 
			 1987-88 10,488 
			 1988-89 11,167 
			 1989-90 13,773 
			 1990-91 16,104 
			 1991-92 16,478 
			 1992-93 17,233 
			 1993-94 15,552 
			 1994-95 15,264 
			 1995-96 15,170

Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 829W, on Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services, where and when each meeting was held; and what the official title or group name given to each of the meetings was.

Jane Kennedy: Meetings were held in London on 21 June and 29 November 2007; in Belfast on 3 April, 8 May and 18 October 2007, and on 18 February and 4 April 2008; and in Dublin on 6 November 2007. The title Steering Committee on Harmonisation has commonly been used for these liaison meetings.

VAT: Lighting

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 929W, on VAT: housing, what progress has been made on plans for lowering the rate of VAT on energy efficient light bulbs at the EU level.

Jane Kennedy: The availability of VAT reduced rates is governed by the European VAT agreements, signed by successive Governments. The Government are currently making the case at EU level for wider application of reduced VAT rates to energy-saving and energy efficient products. In March 2008 the European Council invited the Commission to examine areas where economic instruments, including VAT rates, can have a role to play to increase the use of energy-efficient goods and energy-saving materials. This work is currently under way and we expect it to be discussed by member states later in the year. Decisions on the scope of any new reduced VAT rate would be a matter for unanimous agreement of all member states.

Welfare Tax Credits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much was received on average in  (a) working tax credits and  (b) child tax credits by claimant families with a child (i) claiming and (ii) not claiming disability living allowance in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of families with a child claiming disability living allowance are claiming  (a) working tax credit and  (b) child tax credit; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits: Armed Forces

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many military service personnel are in receipt of  (a) child tax credit and  (b) working tax credit, broken down by service; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of child and working tax credit claimants broken down by occupation is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits: EU Nationals

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for  (a) working tax credits and  (b) child tax credits were made by citizens of other EU member states resident in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury and its agencies provide Welsh language versions of its publications on request as part of their own Welsh Language Scheme. Welsh language versions of literature are provided under the Welsh Language Act 1993.
	Detailed records on the level of demand for publications issued by HM Treasury, NSI, OGC Buying Solutions, VOA and the Royal Mint do not exist, but key reports are translated and printed in Welsh including:
	HM Treasury pre-Budget and Budget main and Welsh regional leaflets, Euro preparations leaflet;
	OGC resourcing publication; and
	NSI product brochures for the 1,041 Welsh post offices10 different versions, 9,000 copies each.
	HM Revenue and Customs monitors the level of demand for Welsh Language Services through statistical information collected by its Welsh contact and service centre. In the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008, the Department received approximately:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Telephone Calls 20,026 
			 Inquiry Centre Visits 1,111 
			 Self Assessment returns 2,462 
			 Letters and forms 24,367 
		
	
	In March 2008, HMRC renewed its commitment to provide a Welsh Language Service when it agreed a four-year Welsh Language Scheme with the Welsh Language Board. This undertaking outlines the Department's commitment to approximately 10,000 Welsh language customers who have contacted it asking for a Welsh Language Service.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 203260, tabled on 28 April 2008, on the Council of Ministers; and what the reasons are for the time taken to answer.

Kitty Ussher: I have done so.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of accident and emergency admissions which took place in the week commencing  (a) 24 March and  (b) 31 March 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The primary source of information on accident and emergency (AE) activity is the quarterly monitoring accident and emergency dataset, which collects and publishes information, including on emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments in England, on a quarterly basis. The most recently-published data shows that there were 771,217 emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments in England for the period January to March (quarter four) 2007-08.
	Limited information on emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments is collected from national health service trusts as weekly, unvalidated data for performance management purposes.
	Information is available on attendances at AE departments but this is collected separately.

Baby Care Units: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many level 3 intensive care cots were available for neo-natal care in each of the acute trusts in the east of England strategic health authority area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The average daily number of available beds in neonatal intensive care wards (also known as level 3 wards) for national health service acute providers in the east of England strategic health authority area can be found in the following table. There have been concerns raised recently about the definitions used for neonatal intensive care cots in the KH03 return. The concerns have been around the definition using the ward type of where the cot is located as part of the definition. This has caused confusion among some trusts of where to record their neonatal intensive care cots and has caused inconsistency in reporting. These concerns will be investigated with the view of ensuring a robust and clear definition is developed for the 2008-09 collection.
	We understand that the SHA is currently consulting on the proposals set out in its clinical vision document, Towards the best, together, including proposals for the future of maternity services in the region. The public consultation will continue to 4 August 2008, and we encourage the hon. Member to engage with this process.
	
		
			  Average daily number of available beds in wards, ward classification 'Intensive care: Neonates', acute NHS providers in East of England SHA area 
			  Organisation name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 
			 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 32 31 18 13 13 13 13 
			 Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust 0 0 0 0 18 18 18 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 17 23 37 37 37 37 36 
			 Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 3 3 7 3 3 3 3 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 5 5 5 5 6 8 8 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 22 22 22 22 22 22 25 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 
			 Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 15 4 16 16 19 18 19 
			 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 
			 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust 10 10 8 9 12 12 12 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 6 4 4 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 
			  Notes:  1. Intensive care: patients requiring advanced respiratory support alone or basic respiratory support together with support of at least two organ systems. This level (level 3) includes all complex patients requiring support for multi-organ failure.  2. James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are not included in the table because they do not provide neonatal intensive care beds.  Source:  Department of Health KH03 return.

Care Homes: Elderly

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) private,  (b) public and  (c) voluntary sector care homes for the elderly in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex were inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that care homes are not registered as being either for older people or younger adults. The distinction is drawn from the set of national minimum standards (NMS) against which they are inspected. This is decided by the inspector at the time of the inspection and is based on the current age profile of the residents of the home.
	The following table shows the numbers of care homes which were active on the 31 March in the years shown and which had been inspected up until that date against the NMS for care homes for older people. It is therefore not a full count of all care homes.
	
		
			  Care homes in Essex and Southend on Sea inspected against the NMS for care homes for older people 
			Ownership type  
			   Area  Local authority  Other  Private  Voluntary  Grand total 
			 2003 Essex (1)  175 12 187 
			  Southend on Sea (1)  56 10 66 
			 2003 total231 22 253 
			
			 2004 Essex 9  195 13 217 
			  Southend on Sea 1 1 57 12 71 
			 2004 total  10 1 252 25 288 
			
			 2005 Essex 4  204 12 220 
			  Southend on Sea 2 1 54 12 69 
			 2005 total  6 1 258 24 289 
			
			 2006 Essex 2  210 14 226 
			  Southend on Sea 2 1 55 12 70 
			 2006 total  4 1 265 26 296 
			
			 2007 Essex  1 218 14 233 
			  Southend on Sea 2 1 53 12 68 
			 2007 total  2 2 271 26 301 
			
			 Grand total  22 5 1,277 123 1,427 
			 (1) The National care Standards Commission (NCSC), which preceded CSCI, began work on 1 April 2002. During the first months of NCSC's existence, there was a delay in registering some local authority care homes, so complete information is not available for 2002-03.  Source: NCSC/CSCI registration and inspection database

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the responses to the consultation on changes to the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will undertake public consultation in 2008 on the recommendations of a group of key stakeholders on changes to the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG). These consultations will be in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, allowing 12 weeks for comments to be submitted. Any changes agreed by Ministers will be implemented at an appropriate date after the end of the consultation.
	From 2007, the Department has not consulted on the uprating of items in the regulations and the CRAG, such as the capital limits and personal expenses allowance, where any such changes are simply being uprated using the formula applied in previous years. However, consultation will take place if there are other proposed changes.

Care Homes: Inspections

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) private,  (b) public and  (c) voluntary sector homes for the elderly in (i) Tamworth constituency and (ii) Staffordshire were inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that care homes are not registered as, for example, care homes for older people. CSCI inspectors will decide at the time of an inspection whether to inspect a home against the national minimum standards (NMS) for care homes for older people or younger adults. This decision is based on the age profile of the residents of the home.
	The following table shows the number of homes which were active in Staffordshire council with social services responsibilities (CSSR) area on 31 March at the end of each financial year shown, that had been inspected at some point prior against the NMS for older people (though not necessarily during the year in question).
	CSCI is unable to provide separate data for Tamworth, which is not a CSSR. The lowest level at which CSCI is able to report is that of a CSSR, of which there are 150 in England.
	
		
			   Ownership type  
			   Local authority  NHS  Other  Private  Voluntary  Total 
			 2002-03(1) (2)  4 161 5 (2)170 
			 2003-04(1) 24  4 162 2 192 
			 2004-05 23  4 157 3 187 
			 2005-06 23  1 163 2 189 
			 2006-07 21  2 156 5 184 
			 (1) Data collected by the National Care Standards Commission. (2 )Complete data not available.  Source:  CSCI registration and inspection database.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women in Tamworth constituency have received cervical smear tests within the recommended period of time in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency. The following table shows the requested information for South Staffordshire primary care trust (PCT).
	
		
			  Cervical Screening Programme: coverage( 1)  of the target age group (25-64) for South Staffordshire PCT, as at 31 March 2007 
			  Percentage 
			Coverage (less than 3.5 years since last adequate test)  Coverage (less than 5 years since last adequate test) 
			  England 69.4 79.2 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 76.6 82.4 
			 (1) Coverage is defined as the percentage of women in a population eligible for screening at a given point in time (31 March 2007) who were less than the specified period since their last test producing an adequate test result.  Note: National policy for the cervical screening programme is that eligible women aged 25 to 64 should be screened every three or five years (women aged 25 to 49 are screened every three years, those aged 50 to 64 every five years).  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care

Children: Diabetes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce the number of emergency hospital admissions of children with diabetes.

Ann Keen: In April 2007, the Department published Making every Young Person with Diabetes Matter, the report of the Children and Young People with Diabetes working group, copies of this report have been placed in the Library. The report looked at ways to improve diabetes services for children and young people, including better commissioning and workforce planning, to improve care and thereby reduce the incidence of emergency hospital admissions. The report's recommendations are being taken forward by an implementation group led by Dr. Sheila Shribman, National Clinical Director for Children, and including representatives from Diabetes UK, the royal colleges, the Healthcare Commission and other partner organisations committed to facilitating the implementation of best practice nationally.

Clinical Spine Application

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS service providers have implemented the Clinical Spine Application.

Ben Bradshaw: The following national health service organisations and other organisations that provide NHS services have recorded themselves as having completed the final implementation milestone 'Implementation Complete' in respect of the clinical spine application (CSA) phase 1 of the NHS Strategic Tracing Service Closure Project.
	Brent Primary Care Trust (PCT);
	Solihull Care Trust;
	South Birmingham PCT;
	Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT;
	Barnsley PCT;
	Bassetlaw PCT;
	Birmingham East and North PCT;
	Blackburn with Darwen PCT;
	Bolton PCT;
	Bradford and Airedale PCT;
	Buckinghamshire PCT;
	City and Hackney PCT;
	County Durham PCT;
	Darlington PCT;
	Devon PCT;
	Dudley PCT;
	Ealing PCT;
	East Lancashire PCT;
	Halton and St. Helens PCT;
	Hartlepool PCT;
	Herefordshire PCT;
	Kensington and Chelsea PCT;
	Kirklees PCT;
	Knowsley PCT;
	Leeds PCT;
	Lincolnshire PCT;
	Liverpool PCT;
	Middlesbrough PCT;
	Milton Keynes PCT;
	North East Essex PCT;
	North Lincolnshire PCT;
	North Tees PCT;
	North Yorkshire and York PCT;
	Northamptonshire PCT;
	Nottingham City PCT;
	Nottinghamshire County PCT;
	Peterborough PCT;
	Redcar and Cleveland PCT;
	Richmond and Twickenham PCT;
	Rotherham PCT;
	Salford PCT;
	Sandwell PCT;
	Sefton PCT;
	Somerset PCT;
	South Staffordshire PCT;
	Stoke on Trent PCT;
	Tameside and Glossop PCT;
	Tower Hamlets PCT;
	Walsall PCT;
	Wolverhampton City PCT;
	Worcestershire PCT;
	Hull Teaching PCT;
	East Riding of Yorkshire PCT;
	Hertfordshire Health Informatics Service;
	Nottingham Health Informatics Service;
	Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust;
	Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Barts and the London NHS Trust;
	Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
	Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust;
	Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust;
	Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust;
	Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust;
	Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Trust;
	County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust;
	Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust;
	Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust;
	Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust;
	Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
	George Eliot Hospital NHS;
	Trust Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
	Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust;
	Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust;
	Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust;
	Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust;
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust;
	James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust;
	Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust;
	Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust;
	Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust;
	Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust;
	Medway NHS Trust;
	Mersey Care NHS Trust;
	North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust;
	North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust;
	North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust;
	Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
	Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust;
	Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust;
	Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Pennine Care NHS Trust;
	Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust;
	Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust;
	Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS Foundation Trust;
	Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust;
	Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust;
	Scarborough and N.E. Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust;
	Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
	Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust;
	South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust;
	South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust;
	South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust;
	St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Stockport NHS Foundation Trust;
	Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust;
	Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust;
	Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust;
	Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust;
	The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust;
	The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust;
	The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust;
	University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust;
	University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust;
	Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust;
	West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust;
	West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Weston Area Health NHS Trust;
	Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust;
	Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust;
	Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust;
	Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
	Oxford Cancer Intelligence Unit;
	Hampshire and Isle of Wight PPSA;
	Thames Valley Primary Care Agency;
	South West Public Health Observatory;
	South West Cancer Intelligence Service;
	Gloucestershire Family Health Service;
	Devon Patient and Practitioner Services Agency;
	Kent Primary Care Agency;
	Devon Social Services Directorate;
	Wigan Social Services Directorate;
	Nuffield Hospitals; and
	Oldham Social Services Directorate.

Commission for Social Care Inspection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average period of employment for a Commission for Social Care Inspection inspector was in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) the most recent period available in 2008;
	(2)  how many  (a) inspectors and  (b) full-time equivalent inspectors were employed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each year since 2004, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the average period of employment for CSCI inspectors for the years requested are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Average service in years( 1) 
			 2005 2.51 
			 2006 3.32 
			 2007 4.33 
			 2008 5.33 
			 (1) The average length of service with CSCI or its predecessor the National Care Standards Commission. 
		
	
	The number of inspectors and full-time equivalent inspectors employed by CSCI in each year since 2004, broken down by age and sex are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   Data  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60  Grand total 
			 2005 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 13.2 233.8 521.4 421.3 51.1 1,240.9 
			  Headcount 14 248 553 447 56 1318 
			 
			 2006 FTE 10.6 174.7 515.2 425.6 62.0 1,188.2 
			  Headcount 11 187 546 444 67 1,255 
			 
			 2007 FTE 6.0 104.3 378.4 354.9 77.5 921.0 
			  Headcount 6 111 402 371 81 971 
			 
			 2008 FTE 3.0 80.0 315.6 319.2 68.8 786.5 
			  Headcount 3 85 335 333 73 829 
		
	
	
		
			   Data  Female  Male  Grand total 
			 2005 FTE 896.2 344.7 1,240.9 
			  Headcount 964 354 1318 
			 2006 FTE 863.4 324.9 1,188.2 
			  Headcount 922 333 1,255 
			 2007 FTE 688.5 232.5 921.0 
			  Headcount 733 238 971 
			 2008 FTE 599.4 187.1 786.5 
			  Headcount 637 192 829

Commission for Social Care Inspection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) budget and  (b) staffing complement, broken down by (i) sex, (ii) age and (iii) grade of the Commission for Social Care Inspection was in each year since 2002.

Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) was established on 1 April 2004. CSCI revenue budgets, staffing complement, broken down by sex, age and grade since 2004, are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   Revenue budget () 
			 2004-05 157,163,000 
			 2005-06 158,560,000 
			 2006-07 (1)160,586,000 
			 2007-08 (2)150,407,000 
			 2008-09 (3)125,290,000 
			 (1 )Includes 2,500,000 transitions (2) Includes 19,402,000 transitions (3) Includes 25,290,000 transitions  Note:  Revenue budget figures include capital charges which are notional charges for depreciation and cost of capital. The figures also include transitions costs which are non-recurring restructuring costs. 
		
	
	
		
			  CSCI staff in post 
			   Staff whole time equivalent 
			 2004-05 2,622 
			 2005-06 2,634 
			 2006-07 2,499 
			 2007-08 2,075 
			 2008-09 1,743 
		
	
	
		
			  CSCI staff (full-time equivalent) broken down by gender 
			  Month  Female  Male  Grand total 
			 2004 1,847.64 644.61 2,492.25 
			 2005 1,706.95 619.34 2,326.29 
			 2006 1,716.55 637.40 2,353.95 
			 2007 1,385.24 492.55 1,877.78 
			 2008 1,164.31 426.77 1,591.07 
			  Note:  Due to rounding figures may not sum up. 
		
	
	
		
			  CSCI staff (full-time equivalent) broken down by age 
			  Month  20  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60  Grand total 
			 2004 6.89 220.17 490.20 904.08 792.00 78.90 2,492.25 
			 2005 3.00 175.98 430.69 859.26 769.73 87.63 2,326.29 
			 2006 4.81 194.21 394.53 847.53 814.54 98.34 2,353.95 
			 2007 1.00 151.82 300.70 643.37 668.35 112.54 1,877.78 
			 2008 1.00 114.02 247.96 538.71 584.05 105.33 1,591.07 
			  Note:  Due to rounding figures may not sum up. 
		
	
	
		
			  CSCI staff (full-time equivalent) broken down by grade( 1) 
			   Grade  
			  Month  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H+  Grand total( 2) 
			 2004 290.51 279.03 119.94 1,383.34 232.14 163.37 8.00 15.92 2,492.25 
			 2005 242.94 231.82 111.25 1,321.90 235.60 143.85 10.00 28.92 2,326.29 
			 2006 248.23 224.22 114.82 1,286.63 273.76 158.96 15.00 32.32 2,353.95 
			 2007 192.64 193.29 106.39 1,001.82 228.20 115.27 12.00 28.17 1,877.78 
			 2008 133.11 152.23 72.07 869.44 217.40 110.56 9.00 27.27 1,591.07 
			 (1) Grade A to C include positions such as administrative assistants, grade D and above are inspectors and H+ include senior managers. (2) Due to rounding figures may not sum up.

Dementia: Chester

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers for people with dementia there are in  (a) the City of Chester constituency and  (b) Western Cheshire primary care trust.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Dental Services: Manpower

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental students qualified as dentists in each of the last two years; and how many vocational training posts were available for the first post-qualification year of approved training in each of those years.

Ann Keen: Information for England is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Number of home and European Union dental graduates  Number of vocational training places 
			 2006 560 624 
			 2007 593 624 
		
	
	In addition to home and European dental graduates, some overseas dentists with leave to remain in the United Kingdom apply for vocational training places.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expert groups his Department has set up in each year since 1999.

Ivan Lewis: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual Public Bodies publication. Public Bodies also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of Public Bodies dating back to 1999 are available at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp.
	Copies are also available in the Library.
	Since 2007, the Department has published details of its own public bodies on the Appointment Commission's website at:
	www.appointments.org.uk/docs/public_bodies_2007.pdf.
	Copies have also been placed in the Library.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 237-8W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received by senior civil servants in his Department in 2007 to be published.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Edward Miliband) on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular workforce depends on pay-setting arrangements for that workforce.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures his Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In the Department, all unspent criminal record information is requested and subsequently provided through self-declaration by individuals. We are aware of the need to verify these records independently with Disclosure Scotland, and their Basic Disclosure service. However, we are in the early stages of recognising this as a mandatory requirement and are taking action to implement security checking for all new entrants. We are also reviewing how we manage risk appropriately in circumstances where appointment without Basic Disclosure is considered, for example, where an appointment is a very short-term one.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is compliant with the baseline security standard for all incoming permanent staff and inward secondees. While we are unable to provide the specific information requested, we have recently strengthened our recruitment processes by co-ordinating baseline checks through a single team, thereby ensuring consistent application of the standard. Previously, this was carried out across a number of teams and no central checking register was kept.
	The Department ensures that all new permanent staff are entitled to work in the United Kingdom and that they meet nationality rules for Government service. We also carry out appropriate employment history reference checks to provide assurance of an individual's character. Their recent past provides the Department with a view on whether they are likely to bring discredit on the Department and suggests the likelihood of discreditable service in the future.
	All unspent criminal record information is requested and subsequently provided through self-declaration by individuals. We are aware of the need to verify these records independently with Disclosure Scotland, and their Basic Disclosure service. However, we are in the early stages of recognising this as a mandatory requirement and are taking action to implement security checking for all new entrants. We are also reviewing how we manage risk appropriately in circumstances where appointment without Basic Disclosure is considered, for example where an appointment is a very short-term one.

Doctors: Housing

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 55-6W, on doctors: housing, if he will make it his policy to collect centrally assessments of the adequacy of junior doctors' accommodation.

Ann Keen: There are minimum standards for junior doctors' accommodation which trusts are required to meet. This forms part of the terms and conditions of service of hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service in England and Wales. Responsibility for meeting these standards rests with employers and we do not intend to monitor this centrally.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Ben Bradshaw: The Third Outline NHS Euro Changeover Plan was updated on 14 January 2005. This outline plan covers the Department, its agencies and arm's length bodies.
	Copies of the plan have been placed in the Library.

Elderly: Abuse

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Commission for Social Care Inspection to care homes on the prevention of elder abuse; what recent representations he has received about elder abuse; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: All care homes are subject, under the care Standards Act 2000, to the Care Homes Regulations 2001. All providers of regulated social care services, including care homes, must be registered with and inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).
	When inspecting care providers to assess compliance with the regulations, CSCI must have regard for the relevant national minimum standards (NMS). Compliance with the NMS is not itself enforceable, but compliance with regulations is enforceable subject to the NMS being taken into account. Copies of the regulations and NMS are available in the Library.
	Regulation 13(6) requires that arrangements shall be made, by training staff or by other measures, to prevent service users being harmed or suffering abuse or being placed at risk of harm or abuse.
	Standard 18 of the NMS for Care Homes for Older People refers specifically to the protection of service users from abuse. The NMS also refer the reader to further guidance on the prevention of abuse, issued by Action on Elder Abuse, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Department of Health and the Home Office and the Royal College of Nursing.
	CSCI has issued a range of guidance relating to the safeguarding of adults, which is available on the CSCI professional website, including:
	Safeguarding Adults and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA): Including an agreed protocol with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Directors of Adult Services, which sets out how CSCI works with other agencies to make sure people who use care services are safeguarded from abuse. Available at:
	www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=7344key=;
	The Management of Controlled Drugs in Care Homes. Available at:
	www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=7314key=; and
	The report, Better Safe than Sorryadvice for providers about the use of key procedures to safeguard adults in care homes. Available at:
	www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=1790key=.
	In addition to issuing its own guidance, CSCI also draws attention to guidance issued by other organisations on safeguarding.
	It is part of the role of CSCI's provider relationship managers (PRMs) to obtain information on corporate providers regarding safeguarding issues, in order to ascertain if there are any trends in the homes operated by those providers. These trends would be identified in CSCI's annual report and PRMs would also meet with providers in order to raise such issues.

Epilepsy: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to spearhead primary care trusts on the reduction of health inequalities for people with epilepsy;
	(2)  what improvements to the care and support of pregnant women with epilepsy have been introduced since the Action Plan for Epilepsy of 2003.

Ann Keen: The National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions is the key tool for delivering the Government's strategy to support people, and reduce health inequalities, for those living with long-term neurological conditions, including epilepsy. Copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library.
	In October 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a clinical guideline covering the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsies in adults and children. This clinical guideline specifically covers the treatment and management of epilepsy in pregnancy.

Epilepsy: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will review the level of counselling and support provided by the NHS to women with epilepsy during pregnancy;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve the services for people with epilepsy provided by the NHS in the next three years.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of local health commissioners to provide services to meet the needs of their local population living with epilepsy. Local health bodies are expected to work towards the implementation of the national service framework for long-term conditions (copies of which have already been placed in the Library), and health professionals are expected to implement the guidance on the treatment and management of epilepsy issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
	Departmental officials have recently met with representatives of the Joint Epilepsy Council and Epilepsy Bereaved to discuss issues of concern to those with epilepsy.
	We have no plans to review the level of counselling and support provided to women with epilepsy in pregnancy.

General Practitioners

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices have  (a) opened and  (b) closed in each constituency in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect centrally the number of closures of general practitioner surgeries. This data is held locally by primary care trusts.
	However, we do collect data on number of GP practices and practitioners, at a given date for each year. This is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of GP practices in England, as at 1997 to 2007 
			   Total GP practices  Total number of GPs( 1) 
			 1997 9,102 28,046 
			 1998 9,090 28,251 
			 1999 9,034 28,467 
			 2000 8,965 28,593 
			 2001 8,910 28,802 
			 2002 8,833 29,202 
			 2003 8,833 30,358 
			 2004 8,542 31,523 
			 2005 8,451 32,738 
			 2006 8,325 33,091 
			 2007 8,261 33,364 
			 (1) Excluding GP registrars and GP retainers.  Note: Data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-07.  Source: The Information Centre for health and Social Care, General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

General Practitioners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the most recent patient survey on access for GP practices in  (a) Selly Oak constituency,  (b) South Birmingham primary care trust,  (c) other primary care trusts in Birmingham,  (d) Birmingham,  (e) the West Midlands and  (f) England.

Ben Bradshaw: The information centre for health and social care has pre-announced publication of the results of the 2008 GP Patient Access Survey for 16 July 2008.
	The 2007 GP Patient Survey Access results have been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is planned to be spent from the public purse in Chorley on the extension of GP opening hours.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally. In order to extend general practitioner opening hours 158 million has been provided nationally. The development and location of services are a matter for the national health service locally, based on need and working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders.

General Practitioners: Manpower

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time general practitioners are registered to work in Bournemouth.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not held in the format requested. Information is available at primary care trust (PCT) level for numbers of general practitioners (GPs) by headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE).
	The latest available information for GPs is for 2007. Information for Bournemouth and Poole teaching PCT area is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) in Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT, 30 September 2007 
			  Numbers (headcount) and full time equivalents 
			   Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 
			 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount 228 
			 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) FTE 211 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care.

General Practitioners: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the GP to patient ratio within Milton Keynes primary care trust was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	The table shows the number of patients per general practitioner (GP) in the Milton Keynes primary care trust (PCT) area, as at 30 September 2007. These are the latest figures available.
	
		
			  Numbers of patients per GP as at 30 September 2007 
			  Organisation  All GPs (excluding retainers and registrars)  Registered patients  Patients per GP 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 145 245,966 1,696 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics.

General Practitioners: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the GP to patient ratio within the South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Numbers of patients per practitioner by selected primary care trust (PCT) in England, as at 30 September 2007 
			   All practitioners (excluding registrars and retainers)  Registered patients  Patients per practitioner 
			 England 33,364 53,588,174 1,606 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 349 603,057 1,728 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care

Health Professions: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) health visitors,  (b) nursery nurses,  (c) support workers and  (d) midwives there were in Hertfordshire in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (headcount) in Hertfordshire by national health service organisation and by staff group as at 30 September 2007 
			   Total of specified organisations  East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust  West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust  East and North Hertfordshire primary care trust (PCT)  West Hertfordshire PCT  Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff(1) 5,537 1,971 1,370 548 642 1,006 
			  of which:   
			 Registered midwife 400 224 176 0 0 0 
			 Health visitor 237 9 0 103 125 0 
			
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff(2) 3,811 988 867 311 510 1,135 
			  of which:   
			 Nursery nurse 56 1 2 43 10 0 
			 Nursing assistant/auxiliary 2,035 654 138 188 193 862 
			 Support worker 52 0 0 36 7 9 
			 (1) Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff includes: nurse consultant; modern matron; community matron; nurse manager; registered nurse (children); registered midwife; health visitor; district nurse; school nurse; and other first and second level registration nurses (excluding those in the previous categories). Excluding general practitioner practice nurses. (2) Support to doctors and nursing staff includes: nursery nurses; nursing assistant/auxiliary; nurse learner; healthcare assistant; support worker; clerical and admin; and estates (maintenance and works).  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Health Services: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the operation of payment by results following the conclusion of the consultation on modifications to the existing system in the East of England; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No assessment has been made of the operation of Payment by Results in the East of England following the conclusion of the Options for the future of Payment by Results consultation exercise.
	The summary of responses to the consultation exercise, published in January 2008, signalled the priority work areas for the development of payment by results, informed by the responses received to the consultation.
	This document has already been placed in the Library, and is also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations/DH_082424

Health Services: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the effectiveness of payment by results in the acute sector in the east of England; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of payment by results in the acute sector in the east of England.
	However, the Department does sponsor independent research into the national implementation and effectiveness of payment by results. The latest study, the National Evaluation of Payment by Results, has been completed by the health economics research unit of the university of Aberdeen.
	Copies of this report have been placed in the Library, and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Financeandplanning/NHSFinancialReforms/DH_4138133

Health Services: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were  (a) made to and  (b) upheld by (i) by complaint structures at local level and (ii) the Health Service Commissioner arising from services provided by hospitals in South Staffordshire NHS Primary Care Trust area in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the requested format. The following table sets out the number of complaints received by national health service organisations in south Staffordshire for the last five years for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Written complaints about hospital and community services by specified organisations within the south Staffordshire area 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 England 91,023 90,122 90,413 95,047 90,801 
			  of which:  
			 West midlands 9,503 9,714 9,227 9,804 8,937 
			  of which:  
			 South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT)(1) 137 97 104 138 108 
			 Burton Hospitals NHS Trust 399 517 350 588 706 
			 Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust 496 489 400 447 339 
			 (1) South Staffordshire PCT came into existence on 1 October 2006. It is made up of a merger of the following PCTs: Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT; Cannock Chase PCT; East Staffordshire PCT; and South Western Staffordshire PCT.  Note: Data as at 1 April to 31 March each year.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care

Health: Summertime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on children's health of a change to British summer time in winter and double British summer time in summer.

Ann Keen: We have made no such assessment.

Heart Attacks

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of heart attack victims had access to rehabilitation centres in  (a) Gloucestershire and  (b) England in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much funding was provided for rehabilitation centres for heart attack victims in  (a) Gloucestershire and  (b) England in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the projected amounts are for the next three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much of the funding for rehabilitation centres for heart attack victims was ring-fenced in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what percentage of people who had had a heart attack attended rehabilitation in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Chapter Seven of the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework, published in March 2000, set out standards for the national health service about the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline 48, MI; secondary prevention was revised and issued in May 2007, copies of both publications have been placed in the Library. This provided updated guidance to the NHS on secondary prevention in primary and secondary care for patients following heart attack and emphasised the importance of rehabilitation for these patients.
	Implementation of guidance is a matter for the local NHS, working in partnership with stakeholders and the local community. The Department allocates funding directly to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations, and it is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding to commission and provide services to meet the health care needs of their local populations.
	The Department does not collect information centrally about specific funding for, or numbers of eligible patients to whom cardiac rehabilitation services are offered. However, a new National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation, funded by the British Heart Foundation has been established which covers the numbers of programmes and uptakes of services. This will provide stronger evidence on the quality and effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation services and encourage local areas to appraise and improve their service provision. Further details are on the website at:
	www.cardiacrehabilitation.org.uk.

Hospitals: Attendance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust has been in each of the last five years of patients missing  (a) first appointments and  (b) follow-up appointments.

Ben Bradshaw: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Hospitals: Closures

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which decisions on hospitals scheduled for closure were referred to him in each of the last five years; and how many decisions were not upheld.

Ann Keen: No decisions on hospitals scheduled for closure have been formally referred to the Secretary of State in the last five years.

Hospitals: Infections

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that the Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections is implemented effectively.

Ann Keen: The Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections came into force on 1 October 2006 and compliance is assessed by the Healthcare Commission (HCC).
	The HCC has the power to issue an improvement notice to a national health service body that is not compliant with the code. In addition to self-declarations on compliance with the code, the HCC make unannounced visits to assess NHS bodies. During 2007-08 the HCC carried out 120 unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the code, with a focus on acute trusts, and issued three improvement notices. All three trusts subsequently demonstrated that they had improved and were compliant with the code. To further strengthen this process, from April 2008, specialist teams from the HCC are carrying out annual infection control inspections of all acute trusts against the code. This inspection programme is under way and, to date, the HCC has issued one improvement notice as part of this programme.

Hospitals: Land

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he issues on the involvement of interested parties in decisions on the disposal of land formerly occupied by hospitals;
	(2)  what guidance he issues on  (a) hospital site transfers and  (b) the (i) use and (ii) disposal of land formerly occupied by hospitals.

Ben Bradshaw: Guidance for national health service organisations on all land and property transactions, including hospital site transfers and the disposal of surplus land or buildings, is given in the Department's publication, Health Building Note 00-08: Estatecode. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.
	Under this guidance, where property has been identified as surplus to a particular NHS organisation, such property should be offered to other local trusts to determine whether the asset could be re-used by them for the provision of health care services, Government Departments and the local authority. This policy accords with the Government's requirement to make better use of surplus public sector land.

Hospitals: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to improve the performance of hospitals since 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 17 June 2008
	Since 2000, the Government have invested significant resources in the national health service so that hospitals are now providing a much higher quality of care, in better facilities, with more staff and better outcomes for patients. As a result, waiting times have reduced significantly, survival rates for cancer and heart disease have greatly improved and the majority of patients tell us they are satisfied with the level of care they receive.
	To build on these successes, the Department published Developing the NHS Performance Regime in June 2008, which set out the 'vision' for developing a performance regime to support NHS organisations to succeed and to identify and address under performance where it occurs.
	We continue to work with the NHS across strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to determine local and national priorities to drive better performance in the areas that matter most to patients. National and local priority areas are set through NHS operating frameworks, which the Department reports on quarterly.

Lung Cancer

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from the UK Lung Cancer Coalition in the last 12 months; what response has been made to such representations; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department receives a number of representations from stakeholder groups about cancer policy. The UK Lung Cancer Coalition forwarded a copy of its report, 'Improving lung cancer survival in the UK', to the Department on 1 November, the contents of which we read with interest. On 6 December 2008, I acknowledged the excellent work of the UK Lung Cancer Coalition and thanked them for their contribution.

Lung Cancer: Screening

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing a lung cancer screening pilot; and what timetable he has set for the introduction of such a pilot.

Ann Keen: The Department is leading work on behalf of the National Cancer Research Institute to commission research on the feasibility of a United Kingdom trial of computerised tomography screening for lung cancer. The National Institute for Health Research Technology Assessment programme issued a commissioning brief, taking full account, of the trials already underway in the United States and Europe, with a view to funding feasibility studies as soon as possible. To date, two applications were received and one applicant has been invited to develop a feasibility study. If there is progression to an exploratory trial and then a full randomised controlled trial, these will take a number of years to complete depending on the success of the research at each stage.

Medical Examinations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether arrangements exist for patients to have annual medical check-ups in the NHS in  (a) Shropshire and  (b) other parts of England.

Ben Bradshaw: The General Medical Services contract requires general practitioner practices to:
	invite all newly registered patients for a consultation within six months of registration;
	provide, on request, a consultation to all patients aged 75 or over who have not had a consultation within the last 12 months; and
	provide, on request, a consultation for patients aged 16-74 who have not had a consultation within the last three years.
	There are no arrangements particular to Shropshire.

Neurology: Palliative Care

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he plans to monitor progress towards implementation in 2015 of the National Service Framework for Long-term Neurological Conditions;
	(2)  if he will provide guidance to local NHS organisations to ensure implementation of the 11 quality requirements within the National Service Framework for Long-term Neurological Conditions.

Ann Keen: Progress on implementation of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term Conditions (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) will be measured in a number of ways, including:
	research studies commissioned as part of a national research initiative to underpin implementation of the NSF, to provide baseline data needed to measure the subsequent impact of the NSF;
	work to develop a national minimum dataset for long-term neurological conditions; and
	implementation of clinical indicators developed as part of the Better Metrics Programme.
	We have no plans to issue guidance to ensure implementation of the NSF. Since publication of the NSF, the Department has co-ordinated a range of activity to help local authority social care organisations and national health service bodies take forward implementation of the NSF. This includes:
	working with key NHS, social care, voluntary and independent sector stakeholders, as well as service users and carers, to identify and address key issues in neurological services and the stakeholders' role in implementation;
	ensuring that other key delivery programmes, most especially the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) and the long-term conditions strategy help deliver key NSF objectives; and
	work with the Care Services Improvement Partnership to promote implementation of the NSF through a co-ordinated work programme, including regional workshops, a web-based getting started pack and self-assessment tool for services.

NHS

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms his Department has put in place to enable patients to provide feedback on their experience of local NHS services.

Ann Keen: The Government are committed to engaging patients and the public in the design and delivery of their local health services by making services more responsive and by giving people more opportunities to comment on and influence the care they receive.
	The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, contained important measures designed to strengthen the patient and public involvement system in England, including the introduction of local involvement networks (LINks) and the updated duty on National Health Service bodies to involve users of health services.
	LINks, together with the new duty on NHS bodies to involve, and to report on consultations, will play a vital role in encouraging and enabling a greater range of people to influence the commissioning and provision of health care bringing meaningful engagement to the whole system, from commissioning to front-line care.
	The Department is also in the process of reviewing the NHS complaints system to create a single, more simple system covering all NHS and adult social care services. The new approach will mean that the experience of making a complaint is easier and will ensure that lessons are routinely learned from complaints, feeding into service improvement.
	The national patient survey programme collects feedback on the quality of service delivery from the point of view of patients and service users. Since its inception, over 20 surveys have been conducted across seven different settings, and well over 1 million patients have taken part. Surveys are conducted by the Healthcare Commission.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) private providers and  (b) NHS providers to the NHS are entitled to an uplift in fees in line with (i) inflation and (ii) public sector pay increases.

Ben Bradshaw: Neither private providers nor national health service providers are entitled to an automatic uplift in fees in line with inflation or public sector pay increases.
	In the case of clinical services, the prices service providers receive through their contracts are set through negotiation and agreement with the service commissioner, taking into account the actual costs of providing those services. This applies to both NHS bodies and private providers. Any clinical services provided under the rules of the payment by results system will be subject to the standard national tariff uplift.
	In contracts for cleaning and similar services, there is normally no automatic price increase, although this is a matter for negotiation. Private sector contractors have the opportunity to include an allowance for wage increases in their tender, which will only be successful if it shows the best value for money for the NHS.
	The exception is private finance initiative (PFI) contracts, where there is an annual adjustment to the service payment to allow for inflation, in accordance with HM Treasury policy. For cleaning and similar services in PFI, the adjustment reflects changes in employment costs rather than inflation.

NHS: Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much sick pay was paid to NHS employees in each of the last five years; what proportion of the NHS's staffing expenditure this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The amount of sick pay paid to national health service employees is not collected centrally.

NHS: Staff

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the research paper What Matters to Staff in the NHS, what percentage of respondents ticked each box for each question in the survey on which the report was based.

Ann Keen: The data on the percentage of respondents ticked which box in the survey upon which the What Matters to staffing the NHS report was based has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Staff

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the survey What Matters to Staff in the NHS cost.

Ann Keen: The What Matters to Staff in the NHS survey cost 65,800.

NHS: Transport

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent his Department liaises with local authorities on the provision of bus routes serving NHS facilities.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service trusts and primary care trusts are responsible for liaising with local authorities on the provision of public transport, including bus routes, serving NHS facilities.
	The Department's guidance document, Health Technical Memorandum 07-03 Transport management and car-parking identifies best practice in the development of local travel plans designed to influence transport to an individual site. The guidance also provides access to software developed by the Department of Transport that enables trusts to assess their travel plans and engage directly with local authorities to develop realistic, viable and acceptable arrangements. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	Travel plans are likely to be required when trusts are expanding existing facilities or developing new facilities. In these cases, plans would be agreed with the local authority as part of the normal town planning approval process.

Nurses: Foreigners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of newly-registered nurses who came from non-EU countries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register shows that between 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 there were 4,830 newly-registered nurses and midwives who came from non-European Union countries, out of a total of 27,702. This represents 17.4 per cent. of the total of newly-registered nurses and midwives in the year to 31 March 2007.
	
		
			  Country/area  Initial entrants 
			 England 17,270 
			 Scotland 2,497 
			 Wales 1,021 
			 Northern Ireland 600 
			 European Economic Area 1,484 
			 Overseas 4,830 
			 Total 27,702 
			  Source:  NMC Register

Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the Commission for Social Care Inspection assesses the extent to which care providers are offering effective nutritional care; what information the Commission for Social Care Inspection collects as part of its assessments of the extent to which care providers are offering effective nutritional care; and if he will place in the Library a copy of assessments made by the Commission for Social Care Inspection of the quality of nutritional care offered by care providers.

Ivan Lewis: Under the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and National Minimum Standards (NMS), homes are required to provide, in adequate quantities, suitable, wholesome and nutritious food, which is varied, appealing and properly prepared and available at such times as may reasonably be required by service users.
	Care homes are required to keep records, for inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), of the food provided for service users in sufficient detail to enable any person inspecting the record to determine whether the diet provided is satisfactorynutritionally and otherwiseand including any special diets prepared for individual service users.
	We have been informed by CSCI that, as part of the inspection of care providers, it surveys people using services, their relatives and visiting professionals. The survey form for care homes includes a section where respondents can record their comments on the food provided.
	When inspecting a service, CSCI will assess and score it against key NMS. These include NMS 8Healthcare, which requires that providers carry out nutritional screening of service users on admission and then on a periodic basis, and NMS 15Meals and Mealtimes, which requires a service to provide balanced, healthy and appetising meals for service users.
	In addition to scoring services against the NMS, CSCI would also require evidence of the quality of outcomes for people using the service. It can place statutory requirements on any service if it believes the wellbeing of people who use it may be at risk. The following table shows the percentages of services meeting or exceeding NMS 8 and 15 since 2002-03.
	
		
			  Care homes for younger adults 
			  Percentage 
			   NMS 8Healthcare  NMS 15Meals and mealtimes 
			 2002-03 86 81 
			 2003-04 89 86 
			 2004-05 89 88 
			 2005-06 88 90 
			 2006-07 88 90 
		
	
	
		
			  Care homes for older people 
			  Percentage 
			   NMS 8Healthcare  NMS 15Meals and mealtimes 
			 2002-03 73 78 
			 2003-04 78 82 
			 2004-05 78 84 
			 2005-06 78 85 
			 2006-07 79 86 
		
	
	CSCI issues a range of guidance to its inspectors in the form of 'Clinical Triggers'one of which is entitled The management of nutritional care for older people in care homeswhich provide information on best practice and the action which should be taken if this is not being followed. The 'Clinical Triggers' are available on the CSCI professionals' website at
	www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=7346key.
	Copies of The management of nutritional care for older people in care homes have been placed in the Library.
	CSCI requires all providers to confirm that they carry out nutritional screening for people at risk of malnutrition in its annual quality assurance assessment. Where evidence raises concern about nutrition, CSCI will ensure that this is fully explored during the next inspection of the service. It will track, through the AQAA, the assessment of individual person-centred plans to establish that where required, nutritional screening has taken place.
	Copies of all inspection reports for individual services are available on the CSCI website at:
	www.csci.org.uk.
	CSCI has not carried out additional separate assessments of the quality of nutritional care.

Organs: Donors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many brain-stem dead organ donors the NHS has capacity to maintain on life support at any one time; and for how long such patients may be maintained.

Ann Keen: Organ donors confirmed dead by brain stem testing will have received treatment prior to their death in critical care facilities. Usually the retrieval of donated organs takes place within 12 hours of death. A Programme Delivery Board has been established chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS Medical Director, to oversee delivery of the recommendations. This will include the need to work with commissioners and health providers to consider capacity and business needs in light of the recommendations and projected increase in organ donation.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is; and how services for PNH are currently commissioned and managed.

Dawn Primarolo: Standard treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria includes anti-coagulation, blood and platelet transfusions and in severe cases bone marrow transplant. Services are currently commissioned by primary care trusts from two specialist centres, based in Leeds and London.
	An application to commission the service on a national basis has been submitted by the two national centres and will be considered by the National Specialised Commissioning Group later this month. The application includes proposals to fund a newly licensed drug, which may be of benefit to some patients.

Perinatal Mortality

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) births,  (b) stillbirths and  (c) neonatal deaths there were in NHS operated units of each NHS hospital trust area in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Ann Keen: The Department is unable to provide the information requested. While the Office for National Statistics does collect information on births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths, it is not able to break those figures down by national health service hospital trust areas, or to determine which births took place in an NHS operated unit.

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures  (a) the Healthcare Commission,  (b) the Commission for Social Care Inspection and  (c) the National Patient Safety Authority use to monitor the incidence of pressure ulcers in care settings within its responsibility.

Ann Keen: The Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and the National Patient Safety Authority are independent organisations free to use whatever measures they feel appropriate to monitor the incidence of pressure ulcers in their responsible care settings.

Prostate Cancer: Medical Treatments

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve information about treatment services to help men with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy sets out a series of actions to improve the care and experience of all cancer patients, including those with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer. Copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library.
	Tumour specific national pathways are due to be launched on 21 July 2008, and it will be for cancer networks to adopt and implement these pathways. This will make nationally agreed information available to frontline cancer health professionals to offer to patients at key points in their cancer journey.
	We are also introducing information prescriptions, personalised prescriptions which will draw on local as well as national knowledge and information. They will guide people to relevant websites, telephone numbers and support groups for their condition, as well as providing information directly to patients at appropriate times during their care pathway.
	To support the introduction of information prescriptions, the National Cancer Action Team is working in partnership with cancer charities to develop a system to enable health professionals to generate tailored information prescriptions at any point in the cancer pathway. The system will draw on high quality national content, while making sure local details can be added. The project is being developed for roll out in 2009.

Public Health

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government has made of the number of deaths from preventable illnesses in each of the last two years.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate the Government has made of the number of deaths from preventable illnesses in each of the last two years. (215853)
	There is currently no official definition of deaths from preventable illnesses. However, an analysis published by ONS in May 2007(1) reported that 35 per cent of male deaths and 28 per cent of female deaths under the age of 75 years occurring in 2005 were considered preventable. 'Preventable' in this context means that the disease or event could potentially have been avoided by public health measures or change in individual behaviour.
	(1) Weller L, Baker A, Griffiths C, Rooney C (2007) Trends in avoidable mortality in England and Wales, 1993-2005. Health Statistics Quarterly 34: 6-25

Sheltered Housing: Health Services

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for the formulation of a protocol for the registration of core services in sheltered housing; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There is no timetable for the formation of a protocol for the registration of services in sheltered housing. Providers of domiciliary care services in sheltered housing settings are already required by the Care Standards Act 2000 to register with the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Social Services

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the figure of 6 billion funding gap in social care in 2027 contained in his Department's publication A Case for Change was calculated.

Ivan Lewis: The 6 billion funding gap figure is the difference between two estimates, both of which are based on a series of assumptions and are indicative only:
	the future cost of social care services:
	This looks at projected growth in the cost of social care, taking into account social and demographic pressures, anticipated rises in the unit costs of providing care, and assuming that this rising level of need is met by supply. These projections were carried out by Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU)(1,2.)
	expenditure on social care:
	This uses potential economic growth of 2 per cent. real as an estimate for potential growth in government expenditure on social care. This figure is being used for analytical purposes only and should not be considered indicative of future government spending decisions.
	 Source:
	1. Future demand for social care, 2005 to 2041: projections of demand for social care for older people in England, PSSRU DP 2514, available at www.psru.ac.uk
	2. Future demand for social care, 2005 to 2041: projections of demand for social care and disability benefits for younger adults in England, PSSRU DP 2512, available at www.pssru.ac.uk

Strokes: Speech Impaired

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage improvements in the provision of support for people with a communication disability following a stroke.

Ann Keen: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 528W.

Testicular Cancer

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the survival rate from testicular cancer in  (a) spearhead primary care trusts and  (b) England was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the survival rate from testicular cancer in (a) spearhead primary care trusts and (b) England was in the latest period for which figures are available.
	ONS regularly publishes survival rates for patients resident in (a) 'Spearhead' primary care trusts of England, compared with those resident in the rest of England. However, these figures are not available for testicular cancer. Survival rates for ten cancers (bladder, breast, cervix, colon, lung, oesophagus, ovary, prostate, rectum and stomach) are available on the National Statistics website at
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14821Pos=ColRank=1Rank=272
	The latest available relative survival rates for testicular cancer in (b) England are for patients diagnosed in 1999-2003 and followed up to the end of 2004. The one-year survival rate was 98.1 per cent and the five-year survival rate was 96.5 per cent. These rates are available on the National Statistics website at
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14007Pos=3ColRank=lRank=422

Transplant Surgery: Kidneys

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost savings on dialysis treatments arising from increases in kidney transplants; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: From a health economic perspective, organ transplantation, in almost all cases, is a cost-effective use of resources. This is particularly the case for end stage renal failure. In 2005-06 England spent 932 million on renal services, of which 46 per cent. was on dialysis. For each annual cohort of renal patients that receive a transplant, the cost saving, over a 30-year period, is likely to amount to at least 100 million.

Ultra Orphan Therapies

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria have been established for funding ultra orphan therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: In December 2006, the Government re-issued Good Practice Guidance on Managing the Introduction of New Healthcare Interventions and links to NICE technology appraisal guidance to the local national health service, which states that funding for treatments should not be withheld simply because guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is unavailable but that decisions should be made on the basis of the available evidence. The guidance also suggests alternative sources of information for NHS organisations to consult in the absence of NICE guidance. Copies of the guidance have already been placed in the Library.
	The draft NHS constitution makes clear the patient's right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs for which NICE guidance is not available to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation. To underpin this, the Government will require primary care trusts to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements.

SCOTLAND

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: Staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; information on the numbers of staff holding apprenticeships or advanced apprenticeships are retained by those Departments.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has made no licensing applications. However, in 2006-07 and 2007-08, the office made three listed building consent applications in connection with Dover house, its headquarters in London; these were
	Improvement to the reception area
	closed circuit television
	fire protection improvement works to cupboards

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reviews of regulation his Department has conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

David Cairns: Since July 2007 the Scotland Office has not conducted any reviews of regulation.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 24 months.

David Cairns: One Scotland Office security pass was lost in each of 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days of sick leave were taken by his Department's employees in each year since 1997.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. All staff are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; the Office does not maintain a central record of sick absences. Such records are held by the parent Departments who publish their sick absence statistics.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the euro changeover plan of his Department was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Wills) on 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 886W.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years;
	(2)  from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not have canteen facilities. The only expenditure on food is purchases for occasional events and receptions. The Scotland Office does not keep separate records of the spending on food. Spending on food follows Government policy on sustainability and Fairtrade.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

David Cairns: None

JUSTICE

By-elections: Haltemprice and Howden

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what he expects the cost to the public purse to be of the by-election in Haltemprice and Howden; what the maximum cost of the freepost afforded to each candidate will be; and if he will break down all other costs associated with the by-election.

Michael Wills: It is not possible accurately to predict the cost of a particular by-election or provide a breakdown in advance since they are unique events which often involve extra costs for elements specific to that election (such as additional security or media management costs). However, average costs for the conduct of past by-elections have been around 70,000 to 80,000.
	In addition, candidates at parliamentary elections are entitled to send, free of charge for postage, one election communication either to each elector in the constituency or to each household. The Government pay the delivery costs. The cost to the Government of a candidate sending one communication to each elector in the Haltemprice and Howden constituency will be around 18,960. The cost of a candidate sending one communication to each household in the constituency will be around 3,930. I understand that, to date, the Royal Mail estimates the total cost of this service at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election at around 112,600.

Courts: Sight Impaired

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures are in place in  (a) magistrates' courts and  (b) the Crown Court to assist defendants who are either blind or partially sighed.

Maria Eagle: Her Majesty's courts service is committed to ensuring that the Crown court and magistrates courts meet the needs of blind and partially sighted defendants as required by the Disability Discrimination Act. This includes personal help for the individual through the provision of documents in Braille or large print, direct assistance from staff while in custody or on court premises, and more indirect help in catering for their needs through the design of court buildings. The Equal Treatment Bench Book provides guidance on safeguarding the interests of disabled people during the trial process.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which unimplemented parts of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 he plans to implement; and when;
	(2)  which parts of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 remain unimplemented.

Jack Straw: Only a small percentage of the 335 substantive sections in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 have yet to be fully implemented. These are; S.23A; s.34-s.35; s.43; s.62-s.66; s.137-s.138; s.151; s.154-s.155; s.161; s.181; s.188; s.280-s.283; and s.298.
	s.34 is due to be implemented by the end of 2008. Officials are actively working on the remaining provisions, considering implementation in light of pilot exercises; resource implications; or the examination of other necessary procedures and practices.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to bring section 62 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 into force.

Jack Straw: Before deciding whether to implement sections 62-66 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, we have decided to examine the operation in practice of the right of appeal against a terminating ruling which is also provided for by Part 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and which was brought into force in April 2005. Officials have been instructed to conduct a review which will be commenced shortly. Once the evaluation has been concluded a decision will be taken regarding commencement.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice and its agencies have entered into IT contracts, in the last two years, with Logica for application services and with Atos Origin for infrastructure services.
	In the same period, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, entered into IT licensing contracts with Oracle, IBM and Computer Associates, and the following IT contracts for the services indicated:
	Atos Origin: A help desk service for the Exhibit Portal.
	Steria: Development and implementation of software applications;
	IBM: Development and implementation of software applications;
	Logica: A web-based management information system;
	Cable and Wireless: Secure email together with a Government service intranet to Criminal Justice departments and a Criminal Justice extranet connection for network testing purposes;
	Fujitsu: Management maintenance and support services for the Criminal Justice Exchange.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each such inquiry.

Jack Straw: In the last five years the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has commissioned five independent inquiries and sponsored the Hutton inquiry.
	The creation of the MoJ in May 2007 transferred the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) from the Home Office to the MoJ. The Home Office commissioned five independent inquiries in relation to NOMS in the preceding five years. The former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) sponsored the Hutton inquiry. Details as follows:
	 Inquiry into the death of  p olice  c onstable Gerald Walker
	The inquiry into the death of police constable Gerald Walker was published in March 2004. This inquiry, by HM Inspectorate of Probation, commissioned by the Home Secretary. The inquiry addressed events leading to the death of PC Gerald Walker, included consideration of policies and procedures relating to post release licences and related issues of criminal justice inter-agency working and communication. The inquiry cost 40,000. The steps taken following the inquiry included improvements to policeprobation practice and the introduction of a Joint National Protocol between police and the Probation Service.
	 Zahid Mubarek Inquiry
	The Zahid Mubarek inquiry was announced in April 2004, following the House of Lords ruling that an independent public investigation be held into the murder of Zahid Mubarek by his racist cellmate in Feltham Young Offender Institution in 2000. Mr. Justice Keith, chair of the inquiry, was tasked with looking into the events leading up to the murder and to make recommendations on the prevention of such attacks in the future. The report of the Zahid Mubarek inquiry was published in June 2006 and included 88 recommendations related to the prevention of any future deaths in circumstances similar to that of Mr. Mubarek. The Government welcomed the report and published an initial response. A full response to each recommendation was given within two months. Many of these reflected policies and procedures already put in place at HM Prison Service establishments. The inquiry cost 4.2 million.
	 Inquiry into the supervision of Peter Williams by Nottingham City Youth Offending Team
	The Inquiry into the supervision of Peter Williams by Nottingham City Youth Offending Team was published in September 2005 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. This inquiry was commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to inquire into the supervision of Peter Williams who had been convicted, in 2005, of murder while on licence. The inquiry also assessed the local area implementation of relevant policies, the governance of the local Youth Offending Team (YOT) and any wider issues. The inquiry cost 30,000. The steps taken following the inquiry required the YJB and the local YOT to take improvement action on enforcement, electronic monitoring, intensive supervision and training.
	 Independent  r eview of a  s erious  f urther  o ffence case of Damien Hanson and Elliot White
	An independent review of a serious further offence case of Damien Hanson and Elliot White was published in February 2006 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. The inquiry was commissioned by the Home Secretary to inquire into the decisions and management of London probation area relating to the sentences being served by Hanson and White at the time when they committed the offences. The offenders had been convicted of murder in 2005. The inquiry cost 40,000. The steps taken following the inquiry were that the Probation Circulars 49/05, 15/06 and 22/06 were issued requiring areas to undertake a comprehensive review of their risk assessment and management of offenders, and to take improvement actions including training.
	 The Case of Approved Premises in Avon and Somerset
	The case of approved premises in Avon and Somerset. This inquiry was published in March 2007 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. The inquiry was commissioned by the Home Secretary to investigate allegations made by the BBC Panorama programme and to make any recommendations necessary to improve the management of dangerous offenders. The inquiry cost 100,000. The steps taken following the review were that the probation area and the approved premises were required to address recommendations regarding resourcing, training, drug testing, and liaison with police.
	Costs to HMI Probation were met from within their allocated budget. The cost figures aforementioned are derived using an approach, which absorbs all the support administration and related additional costs of each piece of work into an average cost per hour. This provides cost figures as a 'calculated proportion of the allocated budget'.
	 The Hutton Inquiry
	The Hutton inquiry was commissioned on 18 July 2003, and sponsored by the then Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, Lord Falconer of Thoroton. Its terms of reference were
	...urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstance surrounding the death of Dr. Kelly.
	Lord Hutton completed his report in January 2004. The costs incurred by the inquiry itself were 1.68 million for the financial year 2003-04. These were the costs to the then, Department for Constitutional Affairs, as the sponsor Department for the inquiry. The Government accepted Lord Hutton's report in full.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Jack Straw: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; are consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: Since the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007 reimbursable expenses by special advisers up to the end of March 2008 was 1,194.86. Because the Department is only 14 months old information for previous years is not held centrally and could be provided only by retrieving paper records from storage and manually collating this information at a disproportionate cost.
	Procedures for reimbursing expenses are set out for staff in their handbooks and are in line with the provisions set out in the civil service management code. The code can be viewed at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice has answered 2,111 ordinary written questions and 647 named day questions this session. On average it has taken 5.72 sitting days to answer ordinary written questions and 2.32 sitting days to answer named day questions in Parliament.
	As my Department was not established until 9 May 2007 the information for previous years is not held centrally and could be provided only by manually collating each question at a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence: Prisoners Release

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many men convicted of domestic violence offences have been released under the end of custody licence scheme; what risk assessment or accommodation check was carried out in each case; what records he holds on whether any such offenders have re-offended; whether any such offenders have been recalled to prison; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Domestic violence is not a specific offence. Offenders who commit domestic violence are charged with a generic offence of assault. It would not be possible to identify the number of prisoners convicted of domestic violence related offences without examining individual case files which would incur disproportionate cost. Similarly, it is also not possible to identify prisoners convicted of domestic violence related offences who have gone on to reoffend or who have been recalled to custody.
	Prisoners released under the ECL scheme are not subject to individualised risk assessment; the assessment of eligibility is against the criteria of the scheme. Prisoners serving a sentence for a serious violent offence are excluded from ECL. All prisoners released on ECL would have been released at their statutory release date a maximum of 18 days later. It is for this reason that ECL operates according to precise fixed criteria. All release arrangements that would otherwise have taken place 18 days later are brought forward to the ECL release date and any licence conditions that would apply at the statutory release date are included on the ECL licence.
	Prisons are instructed that they should take appropriate action in response to any information they have received that a prisoner poses a risk of domestic violence or to a specific victim on release. That information should be provided to the police and, where appropriate, submitted to the multi-agency public protection panel, in line with routine risk management arrangements. In such cases, release on ECL should not take place until measures to address the risk have been put in place.
	The full policy on ECL is set out in prison service instruction 42/2007. This may be found on the prison service's website:
	http://psi.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PSI_2007_42_end_of_ custody_licence.doc

Elections: Fraud

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of people who were unable to vote in the 2008 London Mayoral election owing to their vote having been used fraudulently by another; and what steps he is taking to prevent such fraud.

Bridget Prentice: The Greater London Authority was responsible for the conduct and running of the London Mayoral election in 2008. Their officials have confirmed that there is only one complaint that is currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. This relates to an alleged instance of someone voting twice. They are aware of no other instances where there is any reported suspicion of an elector being deprived of their vote by the action of another person.
	The Government take the risk of electoral fraud extremely seriously and have taken significant steps to tighten up the security in relation to voting. Recent legislative changes include the use of personal identifiers by postal voters and new and increased penalties for those convicted of electoral fraud.
	We are continuing to work closely with the Electoral Commission, police, political parties and returning officers to raise awareness and strengthen systems to ensure that fraud is detected and prosecuted.

Electronic Tagging

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many cases of tagged offenders  (a) disarming their tags and  (b) breaking curfews while tagged have been reported to police in each of the last three years; and how many resulted in prosecution;
	(2)  how many cases of tagged offenders  (a) disarming their tags and  (b) breaking curfews while tagged were reported to police in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: The electronic monitoring contractors are only required to report to the police breaches of curfew for those subject to court bail conditions under the Bail Act 1976. According to data provided by the contractors the number of breaches reported to the police in such cases, in the previous three financial years, is as follows:
	
		
			   Cases of deliberate tag tampers (including removals)  Cases breached for other reasons  Bail curfew orders 
			  Financial year  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  
			 2005-06 681 8 3,747 44 8,548 
			 2006-07 1,991 11 9,578 52 18,327 
			 2007-08 1,97l 8 14,205 57 24,936 
		
	
	There has been a large increase in the number of bailed cases in the last three years, particularly since September 2005 when courts were encouraged to make greater use of curfew as a condition of adult bail (curfew as a bail condition for juveniles has been available since 2002). The large increase in the number of reported breaches reflects this.
	While there has been a rise in the percentage of cases breached for other reasons, such as late back at the start of the curfew, the number of cases breached for tag tampers, as a percentage of bail curfews, fell from 11 per cent. in 2006-07 to 8 per cent. in 2007-08.
	The figures include multiple breaches/tag tampers committed by tagged persons on bail and reported to the police. The system is designed to ensure that any attempt to remove a tag within the curfew address automatically registers as a tamper at the electronic monitoring service provider's control centre.
	Data on the number of cases resulting in a return to court are not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost through collating information from each police force.

European Convention on Human Rights

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the United Kingdom to accede to protocol 7 of the European convention on human rights.

Michael Wills: The United Kingdom will be in a position to accede to the seventh protocol when legislation to abolish or equalise three rules of matrimonial property law has been passed. We are seeking a suitable legislative vehicle in which to do so.

Information Commissioner: Public Relations

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many press, marketing and communications staff are employed by the Information Commissioner's office.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner's office is an independent body created by statute. Its responsibilities include handling complaints made under the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
	The ICO has a communication team of 11 people who deal with online media, internal communications, market research, marketing, media strategy, publications and public affairs.
	The ICO also uses a public relations agency to provide a press office. A recent re-tendering exercise found that the estimated costs for setting up an in-house press office were higher than employing a public relations agency to do this work.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he had with the Electoral Commission on the triggering proposals in the White Paper on party finance and expenditure before its publication.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) met with the chairman of and officials from the Electoral Commission prior to the White Paper's publication to discuss its content. Officials at the Ministry of Justice have also been in regular contact with counterparts at the Electoral Commission on a wide range of issues covered in the White Paper. Ministry of Justice officials are continuing to discuss implementation of the White Paper with the Electoral Commission.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether an impact assessment, including a small firms impact assessment, will be produced in relation to the proposals in the party finance and expenditure White Paper to assess the impact on  (a) unincorporated associations and  (b) political parties.

Bridget Prentice: In developing proposals for reform of party finance and expenditure, my Department is conducting all necessary impact assessments in accordance with Government policy. These assessments will take into account any relevant impact on specific groups, including unincorporated associations and political parties.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  further to the publication of the party finance and expenditure White Paper, what his anticipated timetable is for the consultation by the Electoral Commission on the new trigger rules guidance;
	(2)  further to page 45 of the party finance and expenditure White Paper, whether  (a) his Department and  (b) the Electoral Commission plans to consult on the definitions of election-influencing expenditure for the purpose of the new trigger rules;
	(3)  further to the publication of the party finance and expenditure White Paper, whether the proposed new guidance on the trigger rules will be subject to definition in primary legislation.

Bridget Prentice: Publication of the White Paper was intended to encourage discussion and comment on the future of party funding regulation and the specific proposals for legislation. Legislative proposals will be put before this House shortly. The Ministry of Justice does not propose consultation on the matters likely to constitute 'electoral purposes' in the new regime. The Electoral Commission will be charged with publishing guidance. Any consultation that the Electoral Commission may wish to conduct before publishing guidance on this, or any other, topic is a matter for the Commission to decide.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there will be transitional arrangements for the implementation of the new trigger rules proposed in the party finance and expenditure White Paper.

Bridget Prentice: No decision has yet been taken as to the precise arrangements for implementation of the rules on triggering. Triggering will be the subject of legislation which will be brought forward shortly.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's copy of the minutes of the inter-party talks on party funding of 31 October 2007.

Bridget Prentice: As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) in the debate on the publication of the White Paper on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 695, release of these papers is a matter for Sir Hayden Phillips.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice further to the publication of the party finance and expenditure White Paper, whether the proposed new trigger rules will apply to  (a) sitting councillors and  (b) councillor candidates.

Bridget Prentice: Changes to the rules on triggering will be included in a forthcoming Bill. The new rules will not apply to councillors or councillor candidates.

Prisoners Release

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people convicted of  (a) robbery and  (b) actual bodily harm have been released on end of custody licence;
	(2)  how many people have been released on end of custody licence who had previously been refused a home detention curfew;
	(3)  how many people have been released on end of custody licence since 27 June 2007.

Jack Straw: The available information on numbers released by offence is published monthly, in the statistical bulletin end of custody licence releases and recalls, available from the library of the House and the Ministry of Justice website at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustody licence.htm
	The following table shows the available information on numbers of prisoners by offence group who were released under the ECL scheme from 29 June 2007 to 31 May 2008:
	
		
			  Offence group  Releases 
			 Violence against the person(1) 5,468 
			 Sexual 8 
			 Robbery 668 
			 Burglary 2,609 
			 Theft and Handling 6,563 
			 Fraud and Forgery 551 
			 Drug offences 1,218 
			 Motoring offences 3,529 
			 Other offences 7,778 
			 Offence not recorded 487 
			 Total 28,879 
			 (1 )Prisoners convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (Offences Against the Person Act 1861 s.47) are not excluded from release on ECL. It would not be possible to identify the number of prisoners convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm without examining individual case files which would incur disproportionate cost. These offences are included in the category 'violence against the person'. 
		
	
	Prisoners serving sentences for the most serious violent offences and registered sex offenders are excluded from ECL. A complete list of exclusions is contained within PSI 42/2007. This may be found on the prison service website at the following address:
	http://psi.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PSI_2007_42_end_of_custody_ licence.doc
	Of the 28,879 prisoners released under ECL between 29 June 2007 and 31 May 2008, the latest date for which this figure is available, around 5,300 had previously been refused release on home detention curfew.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Open University

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners  (a) took and  (b) passed degree courses at the Open University in 2006; and in which subjects.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available by calendar year.
	During academic year 2006-07 1,211 prisoners undertook studies towards an Open University degree, with 1,065 successfully completing the course module (or modules) they studied during that year. These figures exclude some learners who have been released since the end of the academic year. Of those undertaking studies, 393 studied Openings Courses. The 10 most popular course modules studied were:
	Social Science Level 1
	Openings: Understanding Society
	Openings: Understanding Management
	Openings: Open to Change
	Arts Level 1
	Openings Starting with Maths
	Open Mathematics Level 1
	Understanding Human Nutrition
	Openings: Understanding Health
	Using Mathematics
	My Department funds a prisoner's Openings Course and/or a first course module through the Open University which may, but will not necessarily, lead into further study to degree level.
	In the 2006-07 academic year, 21 Open University graduated in prison. The subjects in which degrees were awarded were:
	BA (Hons) Humanities
	BA (Hons) Business Studies
	Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
	BA/BSc (Hons) Social Sciences
	BA/BSc (Hons) Human Geography
	BA/BSc Open Degree

Prisoners: Open University

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what facilities are available to prisoners to take Open University courses; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department makes financial provision available to prisoners to study Open University courses, where they do not have sufficient funds of their own and works in collaboration with the Open University and the Prison Service. My Department funds an Openings Course, and/or a first course for a prisoner accepted onto a programme of study leading to an undergraduate qualification, as well as meeting the ongoing additional tutorial costs the Open University incurs.
	In addition to this financial contribution, the prison gives support through the Head of Learning and Skills to prisoners during their study, and the final decision about whether a prisoner is suitable to take a particular course rests with the prison governor in the light of security and public protection considerations. The Learning and Skills Council contracts with Offender Learning and Skills Service providers requires them to provide practical support and guidance, other than tuition, to prisoners studying for Open University courses.

Prisoners: Suicide

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people from  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire committed suicide while in prison and (i) on and (ii) not on suicide watch in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many ex-offenders committed suicide within a fortnight of leaving prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many women aged 30 to 50 years committed suicide in prison while  (a) on and  (b) not on suicide watch in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The home address of those who die in prison custody is not recorded centrally. To verify home address information (which in some cases would be 'no fixed abode') would involve contacting each individual prison and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information about suicides amongst people released from prison is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Any prisoner identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm will be cared for using the ACCT (assessment, care in custody and teamwork) procedures. ACCT is the prisoner-centred flexible care-planning system introduced across the prisons estate in partnership with the Department of Health during 2005-07 to replace the old F2052SH system. The term 'suicide watch' is not employed in National Offender Management Service prison suicide prevention policies, as it has been found to be unhelpful in that it could imply a lack of staff interaction with at-risk prisoners.
	All at-risk prisoners are subject to a minimum required frequency of staff supervision (conversations and observations) set by an individual case review. Such frequency can vary widely between different at-risk prisoners depending on the level of risk and the needs of the distressed individual.
	The following table provides a response based on whether or not an ACCT plan or F2052SH at-risk care plan was open at the time of death.
	
		
			   Identified at-risk at time of death  Number of self-inflicted deaths( 1)  of women aged 30 to 50 
			 1998 Yes 2 
			  No 0 
			 1999 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2000 Yes 0 
			  No 1 
			 2001 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2002 Yes 1 
			  No 2 
			 2003 Yes 1 
			  No 3 
			 2004 Yes 1 
			  No 5 
			 2005 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2006 Yes 1 
			  No 0 
			 2007 Yes 2 
			  No 2 
			 (1) NOMS definition of prisoner self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available.

Prisons

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria are used in considering the location of a titan prison.

David Hanson: The main criterion, in considering the location of a titan prison, is where demand for prison places outstrips supply. The titan prisons consultation paper, published by the National Offender Management Service on 5 June, identified three regions where the demand for prison places is likely to be greatest: London and the Thames corridor/Thames gateway, the west midlands and the north west. Site searches in these areas are currently underway.
	In terms of the sites, the minimum criteria for consideration are:
	Minimum site of 50 acres.
	Preferably brown field sites, regular in shape, level and not overlooked.
	Ideally no restrictions, such as listed buildings, rights of way across the site, other third party rights, etc.
	Good access from the public highway.
	Ideally all mains services connections already exist.

Prisons: Telephones

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 684W, on prisons: telephones, if as part of the re-tendering process he will undertake to bring prison telephone tariffs closer to comparable tariffs outside prison.

Maria Eagle: The re-tendering project for provision of telephones to prisoners after 2011 will commence later this year. The pinphone system will continue to be a specific product for safe use by prisoners. One of the aims will be to ensure more reasonable call charges for prisoners than currently. This aim will be balanced against a range of other technical and security requirements.

Prospects Project: Exeter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of stay was of the 132 referrals to the Prospects Project in Exeter between December 2005 and February 2008; and what the cost was of each referral.

David Hanson: The average length stay for the 132 Prospects Exeter residents between December 2005 and February 2008 was 39 days.
	The total operational costs for period in question was 1,544,812 and the total available bedspaces for that period was 14,220 (the Exeter project having 18 beds). The cost of each bedspace was therefore 109 per day.
	The average cost per resident within Prospects Exeter between December 2005 and February 2008 was 4,251.
	The decision to terminate the pilot will save 4 million in 2008-09 and 6 million a year thereafter. Resources will be redirected to services that offer greater value for money and impact on a larger offender group.

Prospects Project: Exeter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were admitted to the Prospects project in each year between December 2005 and February 2008.

David Hanson: The number of people admitted to the Prospects project in each year between December 2005 and February 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			  Exeter 
			   Admissions 
			 January (when the first residents were admitted)-December 2006 37 
			 January-December 2007 82 
			 January-February 2008 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Preston 
			   Residents 
			 2006 27 
			 2007 40 
			 January-February 2008 6 
		
	
	 Merseyside
	No residents were admitted as the Prospects project at Merseyside as the project did not become operational before the Prospects programme was closed.
	
		
			  Bristol 
			   Residents 
			  Male  
			 December 2005 4 
			 2006 40 
			 2007 68 
			 January-February 2008 18 
			   
			  Female  
			 2006 (1)0 
			 2007 12 
			 January-February 2008 4 
			 (1) Site not operational

Prospects Project: Exeter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff were employed at the Prospects project in Exeter; and what their duties were.

David Hanson: The Prospects project at Exeter employed a manager and deputy manager, six full-time assistant managers and four full-time night managers. There was an additional (equivalent) 1.5 staff which provided project resource and administrative support. The manager had overall responsibility for service delivery and management of staff groups, the deputy manager oversaw day to day regime delivery and provide offender management expertise regarding risk assessment and sentence planning; assistant managers would deliver the Prospects regime and deliver the overall sentence plan within the residential unit and in the community; night managers provided supervision and security cover throughout the night. Exeter drugs partnership were also commissioned to provide specialist drugs workers to deliver a drug abstinence regime as well as individual counselling.

Reoffenders: Drugs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many ex-offenders were arrested for drug offences within a fortnight of leaving prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of offenders released from custody who committed a re-offence for a drugs offence within a fortnight of their release (up to and including 14 days), where the offender was subsequently convicted of this offence at court. These figures have been taken from the most recently available adult re-offending cohorts, which include all prisoners released(1) in the first quarters of 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
	
		
			  Quarter one  Number of offenders committing a drug re-offence within a fortnight of release  Total number of releases from prison( 1)  Percentage of offenders committing a drug offence within a fortnight of release 
			 2000 34 15,727 0.2 
			 2002 36 15,578 0.2 
			 2003 37 14,358 0.3 
			 2004 34 15,761 0.2 
			 2005 38 14,595 0.3 
			 (1 )Where the offender could be matched to the Police National Computer (PNC).  Note: Data on re-offending was not produced for the 2001 Q1 cohort because of a problem with archived data on community sentences.

Television: Licensing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in England and Wales were  (a) fined and  (b) prosecuted for non-payment of television licence fees in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

Maria Eagle: The number of persons fined, and proceeded against at magistrates courts, for offences relating to television licence evasion in England and Wales, by region for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following tables.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  N umber of persons fined for offences relating to TV licence evasion by region in England and Wales, 2002-06( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Region  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East (4)8,382 7,885 7,221 (4)8,941 (4)8,640 
			 North West (4)20,076 16,152 22,056 26,345 25,068 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 14,491 10,690 11,206 13,653 12,613 
			 East Midlands 9,478 8,213 8,466 (4)9,818 (4)8,126 
			 West Midlands 9,316 (4)8,290 (4)11,661 (4)13,615 (4)12,617 
			 East of England 4,324 (4)3,840 4,501 (4)4,692 8,280 
			 London 10,266 7,064 12,127 17,359 14,845 
			 South East 5,999 5,633 7,084 (4)7,171 (4)7,458 
			 South West 4,515 3,739 3,902 6,729 6,627 
			 Wales 7,722 7,307 7,931 9,584 9,600 
			 England and Wales(5) 94,569 78,813 96,155 117,907 113,874 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect 1 April 2004. (4) Following quality checks, data for certain police force areas within corresponding regions are not considered reliable enough for publication. (5) England and Wales totals excludes those police force areas with data quality issues.  Source:  CJEAU - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to TV licence evasion by region in England and Wales, 2002-06( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Region  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East (4)9,199 8,645 7,731 (4)9,884 (4)9,407 
			 North West (4)22,369 18,342 24,994 29,293 27,133 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 16,878 12,633 13,025 15,597 14,215 
			 East Midlands 10,850 9,576 9,941 (4)11,308 (4)9,218 
			 West Midlands 10,863 (4)9,611 (4)13,569 (4)15,489 (4)14,171 
			 East of England 5,109 (4)4,850 5,753 (4)5,746 9,640 
			 London 13,209 9,460 16,768 24,198 19,219 
			 South East 7,357 7,259 9,015 (4)8,917 (4)8,800 
			 South West 5,492 4,740 5,746 7,998 7,615 
			 Wales 8,812 8,642 9,055 10,622 10,460 
			 England and Wales(5) 110,138 93,754 115,597 139,052 129,878 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect 1 April 2004. (4) Following quality checks, data for certain Police Force Areas within corresponding regions are not considered reliable enough for publication. (5) England and Wales totals excludes those Police Force Areas with data quality issues.  Source:  CJEAU - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Sequestration

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to begin the public consultation on carbon capture readiness.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 June 2008
	On 30 June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform announced the launch of the consultation 'Toward Carbon Capture and Storage'. The consultation, which runs till 22 September, seeks views from a wide range of stakeholders on the regulation of carbon storage, what carbon capture ready means and how it might be implemented and various other aspects of the EU's draft directive on the geological storage of carbon dioxide. The document can be found at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46810.pdf.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many domestic air flights were undertaken within mainland Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: In 2007-08 the number of domestic flights and costs for such flights was:
	(a) Number of flights: 2,691;
	(b) Cost of flights: 562,491.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the civil service management code and the ministerial code.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The number of individual domestic air flights undertaken within mainland Britain by representatives of Companies House in the financial year 2007-08 was 224, at a total cost of 23,157.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly in respect of your question asking how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within mainland Britain by representatives in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.
	We are only able to collect flight data booked via Corporate Credit Cards which is the most likely way that flights are booked. Although we noted 479 flights were booked in 2007-08 it is likely that some bookings were for more than one person. It is not possible to get individual details by person.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether any central government construction clients have been penalised for not adopting the Office of Government Commerce Fair Payment Charter's commitment to payment periods not exceeding 30 days since 1 January 2008.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	No central Government construction clients have been penalised since 1 January 2008. OGC continues to work constructively both with clients and construction industry trade bodies to assist the implementation of the Fair Payment initiative by all members of project delivery teams.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to how many projects the Office of Government Commerce's Fair Payment Charter will be applied in 2008.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The principles of the Fair Payment Charter are required to be applied to all central Government construction projects over 1 million since January 2008.
	The precise number of projects affected will depend on the number of projects initiated by individual departments in line with their business priorities for the year. As an indication departmental data on time/cost performance during 2006-07 indicated approximately 180 projects.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what penalties will be imposed on central government construction clients which do not adopt the Office of Government Commerce Fair Payment Charter's commitment to end withholding of retentions.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Fair Payment Charter commits both clients and supply chains working for Government to end the practice of unjustifiably withholding payments.
	Retentions may continue to be used by Government clients where they are considered appropriate but such arrangements can only be replicated throughout the supply chain on the same contract terms. Any withholding of payment due to defects or non-delivery must be proportionate and justified in line with arrangements made at the time of the contract.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Gareth Thomas: I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies house and they will respond to you directly.
	Information requested for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to obtain such information would lead to disproportionate costs.

Departmental Consultants

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 1 July 2008
	Central records indicate that the Department has spent the following on consultancy in each of the last five years.
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 86 
			 2005-06 53.6 
			 2006-07 40.3 
			 2007-08 26 
			 2008-09 (1)1 
			 (1) To date.

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Gareth Thomas: Arrangements to work at home on a permanent or ad hoc basis are agreed locally between staff members and line managers. An exact number can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department supports flexible working and has a home working policy setting out guidance for staff and line managers on agreeing and maintaining home working arrangements. A range of flexible computing options are available to facilitate home working across the Department. At present approximately 1,800 staff in the Department have access to flexible computing technology.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Staff in post including UKTI and OME 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Male 3,031 55 
			 Female 1,364 45 
			 Ethnic minority 377 12 
			 Notified disabled 240 8 
			 Not heterosexual(1) 112 6 
			 (1 )Source: Departmental Staff Survey November 2007.  Source: Departmental HR Record system April 2008.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years; what the total amount of bonuses paid has been; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform awards non-consolidated bonuses in two formats:
	1. Special bonuses to recognise performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award.
	2. Annual performance awards paid to highly successful performers as part of the annual pay award.
	Based on the information available the number of staff receiving these awards, as a proportion of the total work force they represent, total amount of bonuses and the size of the single largest payment for which this information can be provided is in the following table.
	
		
			   Special bonuses  Performance awards  
			  Financial year  Number of staff receiving  Proportion of the work force receiving  (percentage)  Total value  ()  Number of staff receiving  Proportion of the work force receiving  (percentage)  Total value  ()  Largest single payment of bonuses  () 
			 2007-08(1) 1,238 36 693,386 1,065 31 (2)2,265,502 16,500 
			 2006-07 919 20 491,669 1,286 29 2,532,180 15,000 
			 2005-06 1,237 27 521, 902 1,257 28 1,808,630 8,000 
			 2004-05 1,261 26 498,592 1,274 26 1,563,180 8,000 
			 2003-04 1,458 29 572,149 1,269 26 1,505,328 6,000 
			 (1) Financial year running from 1 April to 31 March. (2) Includes staff who were transferred from DTI to DIUS as part of the June 2007 Machinery of Government Changes as these staff received a DTI/BERR pay award in 2007. Does not include those staff transferred into BERR from Cabinet Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the June 2007 Machinery of Government Changes as these staff received Cabinet Office and DCLG pay awards respectively in 2007.  Notes: 1. In 2007-08 the total value of bonuses paid was approximately 1.5 per cent. of the total Department's paybill. 2. The special bonuses and performance awards for non-SCS staff are paid on a non-consolidated, non-pensionable basis and do not increase the Department's paybill costs each year. For the SCS the Senior Salaries Review Body determines the level of expenditure to cover bonuses.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Gareth Thomas: Within the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform the costs of all publication-related expenditure is captured against one account code. The cost of identifying subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications would therefore be above the disproportionate cost threshold (700). I can confirm that all such expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Gareth Thomas: BERR encourages secondment as an effective method of developing individuals and sharing knowledge and experience with other organisations. A secondee to the Department is a person who works in BERR for an agreed temporary period with the intention of returning to their employer at the end. A secondment in the Department does not affect the employment status of a secondee.
	Selection of a secondee into the Department is based on merit. In all cases a secondee will be the person most capable of effectively undertaking the duties of the position they have been recruited for. When there is competition for a role, the most capable person is selected in line with good practice in recruitment and selection.
	BERR is an equal opportunity employer and all secondees are subject to the Department's Equal Opportunities Policies. Secondees will have access to an e-learning diversity awareness training which becomes available to all BERR staff summer this year. This follows the diversity awareness training for key leaders which was delivered the end of 2007 to senior civil servants and some middle managers in the Department.

Departmental Standards

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 18-20W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway Review undertaken in 2007-08 on his Department's project  (a) HECToR,  (b) Sellafield PBO Competition and  (c) Magnox South Competition.

Gareth Thomas: OGC (Office of Government Commerce) Gateway Reviews are conducted using a methodology developed by OGC. There are five Gateway Reviews (1-5) during the lifecycle of a project, three before contract award and two looking at service implementation and confirmation of the operational benefits. Programmes are subject to a Gate 0 Review. Gateway reports are conducted on a confidential basis for the programme or project's senior responsible owner (SRO).
	The 2007-08 HECToR Gateway Review was conducted at Gate 4Readiness for Service. Gateway 4 checks that the organisation is ready to make the transition to implementation and that ownership and governance are in place for operation. As a result of the machinery of government changes in 2007-08, the HECToR project now no longer comes under the remit of BERR. Instead it is overseen by DIUS. The 2007-08 Reviews of the Sellafield PBO Competition and Magnox South Competition projects were conducted at Gateway 2 Delivery Strategy. Gateway 2 provides assurance that the acquisition and delivery strategy are appropriate for the desired business change and that implementation plans are in place.

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Gareth Thomas: Waste produced from this Department's HQ Estate that is not recycled is recovered at an 'energy from waste' facility. The resulting fly and bottom ash forms the bulk of waste material going to landfill. The following shows total waste/recycled waste/waste to landfill over the last two years, in tonnes:
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Total waste 530.4 640.8 
			 Waste recycled 281.5 332.0 
			 Recovered energy from waste 243.5 302.1 
			 Waste to landfill (mainly fly ash) 5.4 6.7

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Gareth Thomas: The average cost in 2007-08 of employing an information officer in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform was 3,344 a month (40,128 a year) including allowances, national insurance and superannuation. The average cost of employing a senior information officer was 4,049 a month inclusive (48,588 a year); and the average cost of employing a chief press officer was 5,655 a month, inclusive (67,860 a year).

Electricity Generation: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the resilience of electricity substations to flooding.

Malcolm Wicks: The Energy Minister initiated a review into the resilience of electricity substations to flooding following the floods of summer 2007. The review was carried out under the framework of the energy emergencies executive, a joint BERR/Ofgem/industry body, and led by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) with support from BERR, Ofgem, electricity network owners and the Environment Agency. The first phase of this work, completed in March 2008, established a framework for the assessment of flood risk, societal impact of a loss of electricity supplies during a flood incident and options for protecting electricity substations from flooding.
	The review has now commenced work on the second phase, which includes application of the framework on a site by site basis to all the major electricity substations identified as being located in a flood plain. This work is due to be completed by the end of December 2008.

Energy: Scotland

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the energy requirement in Scotland was on  (a) 13 March 2008 and  (b) 27 March 2008.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 June 2008
	 The information is as follows:
	On 13 March 2008, gas demand in Scotland was 310 GWh and electricity demand 101 GWh.
	On 27 March 2008, gas demand in Scotland was 297 GWh and electricity demand 101 GWh.
	 Source:
	National Grid.
	The Government do not collect data on petrol or other primary fuel consumption on a daily basis.

Enterprise Investment Scheme

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to extend the Enterprise Investment Scheme to allow all relatives to be eligible for tax relief on the purchase of new shares in smaller high-risk companies.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	At the 2008 Budget, the Government announced a consultation on the Enterprise Investment Scheme. This invited suggestions for changes to the Scheme across the board, including the rules that deny income tax relief on their investments to certain relatives of individuals who run companies.
	The consultation closed on 20 June and we are now considering the responses. We will report back in the autumn.

Exports: Military Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what support the Government is providing towards obtaining orders for the Hawk advanced jet trainer from  (a) Singapore,  (b) India,  (c) Norway and  (d) Japan.

Gareth Thomas: UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation works in support of UK based companies to help them succeed in the international market place. BAE Systems' Hawk is the world's most successful jet trainer and is in service in 18 countries. UKTI DSO has lent full support to campaigns to market Hawk to Singapore and to secure additional orders from India. Potential prospects in other markets are kept under review and support provided as required.

Foreign Investment in UK

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1247-48W, on foreign investment in the UK, what percentage the figure given represents of all takeovers which occurred in the relevant timescale.

Gareth Thomas: Since 2003, UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) involvement in acquisitions by foreign owned companies equates to 8.6 per cent. of the total of such investments recorded by UKTI.

Foreign Investment in UK

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1247W, on foreign investment in the UK, if he will place in the Library the data referred to in the answer.

Gareth Thomas: I have arranged for a list of all quotable UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) involved successes in 2006-07 to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Each year a number of companies request that their investment details are not made public. The listing provided therefore only includes those investments where companies have agreed that their details can be made public or where their investment details are already in the public domain.

Grants: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grants were made by his Department and its predecessor to the London borough of Bexley in each year since 1997; and for how much in each case.

Gareth Thomas: In April 2007 the Department paid the London borough of Bexley a resource (revenue) grant of 163,600 under Section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 2003. This payment was in respect of the costs of treating and disposing of household hazardous waste electrical and electronic equipment during the period 1 June 2006 to 30 June 2007.
	Grants were also paid between 2005-06 and 2007-08 in respect of project management and development of the retail enforcement pilot. The amounts were: 28,700 in 2005-06; 146,700 in 2006-07, and 72,900 in 2007-08.
	The Department, under its current responsibilities following machinery of Government changes last year, has not made available any other direct funding to the London borough of Bexley since 1998. Financial records are retained for 10 years, therefore no data is available for the 1997-98 financial year.
	This excludes any payments that may have been made direct to the London borough of Bexley by any of BERR's sponsored agencies, non-departmental or other public bodies, specific data for which could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what reasons former miners and their families in Scotland are entitled to claim damages under the miners compensation scheme from an earlier period than their counterparts in England and Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The reason why former miners and their families in Scotland are entitled to claim damages under the coal health compensation schemes earlier than England and Wales is because the Limitation Act 1980 does not apply in Scotland and therefore no limitation date was established. The date of guilty knowledge in England and Wales were set by the High Court.
	In order to get the Scottish solicitors to sign up to a claims handling agreement, which in the most part would mirror the agreement in England and Wales, the Department reached a number of compromises with the Scottish solicitors. On the Department's part we agreed to pay bereavement awards to all widows who fulfilled the criteria set in England and Wales (under Scottish law they would not all have received this); and for their part the Scottish solicitors agreed to impose a limitation date of 1949 (rather than it being open-ended).

National Emergency Plan for Fuel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether discussions took place in his Department over whether to activate the National Emergency Plan for Fuel during the recent strike by tanker drivers.

Malcolm Wicks: The National Emergency Plan for Fuel (NEP-F) identifies how the resources of the downstream oil industry and the Government can be utilised to manage any significant disruption to oil supplies in the UK market. It enables the Government to select and use one or more appropriate emergency response tools to manage any significant disruption. During the recent strike by tanker drivers working for Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, a joint response team was set up in my Department, demand calming measures were encouraged, and the memorandum of understanding with industry was activated to provide a jointly managed approach to maintaining the continuity of fuel supply. The need to use other emergency response tools within the NEP- F was kept under regular review.

Nuclear Power Stations: Dounreay

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost to the public purse has been of maintaining the Dounreay nuclear facility over the last 30 years; under what budget headings such expenditure has been incurred; and what financial provision has been made for decommissioning the nuclear facility over that period.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 June 2008
	Since 2000, the actual cost of maintaining Dounreay has been as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2000-01 128.2 
			 2001-02 139.4 
			 2002-03 149.6 
			 2003-04 137.7 
			 2004-05 159.3 
			 2005-06 146.5 
			 2006-07 146.8 
			 2007-08 137.5 
		
	
	These numbers are gross costs and do not include any income generated by the site.
	Prior to 2000 the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority did not record costs on a site basis and there are, therefore, no detailed figures on the historical cost of Dounreay.
	The main budget headings which Dounreay has used since 2003 are those defined by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and the Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) prior to that:
	New Construction Projects;
	Decommissioning and Termination;
	Waste and Nuclear Material Management;
	Site Support;
	Support Services (those services required, but not necessarily based on the site);
	Stakeholder Support (such as communications).
	Prior to 2003, the costs would have been separated on a similar basis, but with different titles. For example, Decommissioning and waste management were joined together. These definitions would have changed on a yearly basis.
	Since the creation of the NDA, the financial provision for decommissioning the Dounreay site has been set out in the NDA's annual plans and annual report and accounts, available on their website at
	www.nda.gov.uk.

Oil

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent estimate his Department has made of the  (a) UK and  (b) global demand and supply of oil; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The provisional figures for 2007 published by BERR indicate that UK production of crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) was 1.66 million barrels per day and UK demand for oil products was 1.68 million barrels per day.
	The latest monthly oil market report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates 2007 world crude oil supply, including NGLs, at 85.5 million barrels per day and world oil demand at 86 million barrels per day.

Oil

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent  (a) cross-departmental and  (b) international discussions his Department has had on the global production and supply of oil; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: BERR works very closely on a daily basis with other Government Departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury, Department for International Development and Department for Transport on issues relating to global oil markets.
	BERR is very active in engaging our international partners on how to encourage further oil production and supply in the short and longer term. To this effect, I visited Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi last month to discuss these issues bilaterally. BERR has also had multilateral engagement on this issue through the Secretary of State's attendance at the G8 Energy Minister's meeting on 8 June and at the oil summit convened in Jeddah by Saudi Arabia on the 22 June.

Overseas Trade: Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations the Government have made to British companies operating in Burma to persuade them to withdraw from the country.

Gareth Thomas: We are unaware of any major UK-based company operating there. The Government were instrumental in persuading the last two major UK investorsBAT and Premier Oilto withdraw from the country. Current trade levels are very low.
	The UK Government discourage trade and investment with Burma. We offer no commercial services or support to UK companies wishing to trade with or invest in Burma. British companies who inquire about trade with Burma are informed of the grave political situation, the regime's record on human rights and the country's dire economic prospects.

Post Offices: Closures

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the financial viability and sustainability of Post Office outreach services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the sustainability of the Post Office partner outreach business model.

Patrick McFadden: The Government consider that decisions about the provision of post office services including any outreach services are a matter for Post Office Ltd. and individual sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and level of demand in local communities. We do not believe it is appropriate for Government to seek to intervene in matters which are best considered at local level.
	However, we want Post Office Ltd. actively to engage with local communities, through a process of local consultation ahead of establishing outreach services, so that they can be tailored to individual circumstances and stand the best chance of acceptance and success.

Seals: Animal Products

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made on discussions with the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission on the introduction of an EU-wide ban on the importation of seal products; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: We expect the European Commission to announce shortly what measures it intends to propose concerning the trade in seal products.

Seals: Animal Products

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of plans to introduce an EU-wide ban on the importation of seal products; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Government have said that they would strongly support an EU ban on the importation of harp and hooded seal products. We expect the European Commission to announce shortly its conclusions on possible measures concerning the trade in seal products and an assessment will be made when any proposal is received.

Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grants were made by his Department and its predecessor to  (a) Tamworth borough council and  (b) Staffordshire county council in each year since 1997; and for how much in each case.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department has no record of any payments to Tamworth borough council;
	 (b) Grants totalling 877,746.29 were paid to Staffordshire county council, from financial year 2002-03 onwards. Details by year are in the following table. Information prior to this is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2002-03 44,274.48 
			 2003-04 69,258.46 
			 2004-05 67,961.00 
			 2005-06 25,000.00 
			 2006-07 79,000.00 
			 2007-08 592,252.35

Supermarkets: Farmers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consideration he has given to the appointment of an independent ombudsman to monitor relations between supermarkets and their suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: We hope that a satisfactory outcome can be achieved by the Competition Commission (CC) in its discussions with the grocery retailers about the establishment of the ombudsman. Should this not prove possible after a reasonable period of time, the Government will consider what measures might appropriately address the issues identified by the CC.

Trade Unions: Membership

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what powers trades unions have to exclude individuals from trades union membership on the basis of their political affiliation or party political membership.

Patrick McFadden: Under section 174 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, it is unlawful for a trade union to expel or exclude individuals from its membership on the grounds of their political party membership.

UK Trade and Investment

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what UK Trade and Investment's target for strategic interventions was for 2007; and how many were achieved.

Gareth Thomas: At the start of financial year 2007-08, UK Trade and Investment introduced new top-level annual targets covering high value foreign direct investment successes; helping businesses to exploit overseas business opportunities; and increasing the quantity of research and development in the UK through business internationalisation.
	Figures for the year up to Q3 FY 2007-08 confirm:
	Against a target to improve the performance of at least 20,000 UK businesses, of which, at least 12,000 should be innovative; UKTI assisted 15,900, of which, 12,600 were innovative; and
	Against a target to increase the quantity of R and D activity in the UK so at least 1,000 businesses increase their R and D activity in the UK as a result of UKTI support; UKTI helped 2,799 UK businesses to increase R and D activity.
	Latest figures for inward investment (published 3 July) show that, against an annual target to achieve at least 525 involved inward investment project successes, of which, at least 125 should be high value; UKTI exceeded its target with 549 projects, of which 182 were high value.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed forest law enforcement, government and trade partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: The Department's policy is that all timber and timber products are procured specifying the point of origin and must be from a sustainable source and certified as forestry stewardship certificate or similar.
	On quantity and value, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 2 July 2008,  Official  Report, column 950W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which Government Departments the UK's regional conflict advisers based in Africa under the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool are drawn; and what the mandate and responsibilities of each is.

David Miliband: There are four regional conflict adviser (RCA) posts based in Africa: in Addis Ababa, covering the horn of Africa and the African Union; in Nairobi, covering Central and Eastern Africa; in Pretoria, covering Southern Africa; and in Abuja, covering West Africa. These posts are currently filled by staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (three) and the Department for International Development (one). All four RCAs work in support of the Africa Programme of the Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) and their role is to advise and report on conflict risk and conflict prevention, management and resolution issues in their region and to provide oversight, co-ordination and advisory support to regional and country programmes in the implementation of CPP project activity.

China: Christianity

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have raised the issue of the persecution of Chinese Christians with the Chinese authorities during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We remain concerned that the prohibition of some religious groups and the legal restrictions and harassment of others undermines freedom of religious belief in China. We have repeatedly made clear that harassment of and restrictions upon religious groups is not in line with Article 18 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, which we continue to urge the Chinese to ratify. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised this during his visit to China in January 2008 and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised it when he visited China in February 2008. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, raised it with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui in August 2007.
	We also raised religious freedom at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in January 2008. The EU did the same at the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Ljubljana on 15 May 2008.

China: Overseas Aid

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to cease funding for work in China after 2011; what assessment he has made of the need for development funding in China after the Sichuan earthquake; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Development programme with China consists of two elements. Firstly, work in China to help China achieve the Millennium Development Goals in basic education, water supply and sanitation and combating HIV and AIDS and TB. Secondly, work with China to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals globally by sharing experience and lesson learning with respect to China's engagement in Africa and with its near neighbours; and on climate change, sustainable development and learning from China's experience on poverty reduction. The bilateral programme to China is expected to end in March 2011. We expect engagement with China on international development issues to continue beyond March 2011, but the modalities for this still need to be considered.
	The UK has provided funds for the immediate relief effort in response to the earthquake in Sichuan. On 16 May, three days after the earthquake struck, we provided 1 million to the Chinese Association for NGO co-operation. The money was used to buy food, water, blankets and 2,400 tents. Between 22 and 30 May, four flights arrived in Chengdu from Dubai carrying a further 5,332 tents. The total value of the tents, including transport costs, was 1.2 million. On 18 June, we agreed a contribution of 350,000 to the International Labour Organisation for training to help survivors of the earthquake re-launch or start their own businesses for the first time. The programme aims to re-establish 1,000 businesses and start 700 new ones in the next year. The DFID total contribution to date is therefore 2.55 million.
	We are currently considering establishing a facility to provide technical assistance for the reconstruction effort. It will have an initial ceiling of 1 million. The main focus of the expertise will be on areas where we already have a comparative advantage, such as health, education, water and sanitation, participatory, socially inclusive planning and community-based poverty reduction in remote villages. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-July.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of 0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is working to fully integrate environmental factors into the design and management of our new buildings and major refurbishment in the UK and overseas. For buildings in the UK we use the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and from 2005 we have been developing a bespoke version for projects overseas which we are trialling on three projects currently under construction. The FCO completed the following new builds and major refurbishment in the last three financial years:
	
		
			   Financial year 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   UK  Overseas  UK  Overseas  UK  Overseas 
			 New Build 0 1 0 4 1 5 
			 Major Refurbishment 1 1 0 1 0 6 
		
	
	The two projects in the UK were part of a major refurbishment of part of the King Charles street building and jointly received a very good BREEAM rating. The National Audit Office subsequently increased this to excellent in a study for their report, Building for the future: Sustainable construction and refurbishment on the Government estate.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Meg Munn: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Co-ordination: Dept for International Development

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) parameters and  (b) objectives are of the November 2006 FCO-DFID Shared Service Delivery plan; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library.

David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development Shared Services Delivery Plan aims to share services wherever it represents value for money and focuses on five workstreams: Human Resources; Co-location; Procurement; Information Systems; and a new Service Level Agreement.
	I have instructed my officials to place a copy in the Library of the House.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to relocating 450 posts under the Lyons relocation project by March 2010.

Departmental Manpower

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) his Department's strategic workforce plan of December 2007 and  (b) the FCO High Level Change Plan.

David Miliband: I have instructed my officials to place the latest versions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Strategic Workforce Plan (published in December 2007) and the High Level Change Plan (published in July 2008) in the Library of the House.

Egypt: Terrorism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) age were (i) injured and (ii) killed in Egypt as a result of terrorist activity in each of the last 10 years; what discussions he has had with the Government of Egypt about improving security in Egypt for British tourists during the last 12 months; what response was received; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We express our sincere condolences to the families of the British citizens killed in Egypt and other countries due to terrorist activity. We regret that in 2004, a man and a womanages unknownwere injured as a result of terrorist activity. In 2005, six menages 14, 16, 17, 17, 28, 30and five womenages 16, 31, 43, 50, 70were killed as a result of terrorist activity, and one man aged 22 and one woman, whose age is unknown, were injured. In 2006, three menages 24, 31 and 42were injured as a result of terrorist activity. Between 1998 and 2003, and in 2007, there were no British nationals injured or killed as a result of terrorist activity in Egypt.
	Our embassy in Cairo regularly discusses the safety and security of British nationals with the Egyptian authorities, including at ministerial level. We have worked together to provide training for those involved in protecting tourists and intend to continue to do so.

Eritrea: Djibouti

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent conflict on the Eritrea-Djiboti border; what assessment he has made of the effects of the conflict on the prospects for  (a) peace in the Horn of Africa and  (b) a durable settlement between Ethiopia and Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: There has been fighting on the Djibouti/Eritrea border after an incursion of Eritrean forces into the disputed Djibouti border region. This has led to casualties on both sides. We supported the UN Security Council (UNSC) presidential statement of 12 June condemning Eritrea's military action and urging both sides to show maximum restraint.
	On 24 June, the UNSC renewed its call to Eritrea and requested it to withdraw its troops from the front-line with Djibouti. The Security Council asked for a UN fact- finding mission to the disputed region.
	We call on Djibouti and Eritrea to enter into a bilateral dialogue to resolve peacefully any outstanding issues and avoid escalating tension and further military action.
	We remain concerned about security and stability in the Horn of Africa region. The clashes along the Djibouti-Eritrea border contribute to the instability in this region, but we have not seen any read across to the Ethiopia-Eritrea border situation.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 329W, on Eritrea: Ethiopia, to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks, what representations the Government have made to Ethiopia and Eritrea to agree to re-activate the work of the Military Co-ordination Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Military Co-ordination Commission (MCC) last met on 31 July 2006.
	The meetings of the MCC ceased when the Government of Ethiopia said they would only participate if Eritrea withdrew its military forces from the Temporary Security Zone. The Government of Eritrea said they would continue with the MCC meetings once Ethiopia agreed to participate.
	As a bilateral mechanism, established under the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, 18 June 2000, between Ethiopia and Eritrea, they both bear the responsibility to re-activate the work of the MCC. The Government are prepared to support any initiative which will assist the parties in doing this and resolving the border dispute peacefully.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 369W, which sets out the Government's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute.

European External Action Service

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Third Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2007-08, on Foreign Policy Aspects of the Lisbon Treaty HC120, paragraph 22, what reports on the development of the European External Action Service have been made to Parliament since 20 January 2008; and what steps he plans to take to inform Parliament of progress in discussions on the service.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 June 2008
	My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy, wrote to the European Scrutiny Committee on 22 April about Treaty Implementation and I gave oral evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 11 June. In light of the Irish referendum result, the planned discussions on the External Action Service at the EU General Affairs Council and the European Council were cancelled. That was the right response to the outcome of the referendum in Ireland. No further work will be carried out, and the work has stopped in the UK until such a time as there is a new suggestion from the French Presidency or a way forward suggested by the Irish Government.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently maintain such records for its UK offices or overseas posts, and consequently, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently maintain such records for its UK offices or overseas posts, and consequently, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Wines

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of all guidance issued to Government departments by the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee on the purchase of wine in the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW) offers advice to Government Hospitality, Protocol Directorate, on purchases for the Government cellar and maintenance of current stock. The GHACPW does not issue guidance to individual Government Departments. The GHACPW issues an annual report, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Guinea-Bissau: EC External Relations

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what EU assistance is provided for the Guinea-Bissau security structure.

Meg Munn: A European Security and Defence Policy Mission in support of Security Sector Reform (SSR) is providing advice and assistance to help Guinea-Bissau implement its own National Security Sector Reform Strategy through drawing up implementation plans for the downsizing and restructuring of the security forces, identifying Guinea-Bissau's capacity building needs and facilitating the mobilisation and engagement of donors. The mission deployed on 16 June and will last for an initial period of up to 12 months.
	A team of experts has deployed under the European Commission's (EC) instrument for stability to provide strategic SSR advice to the Defence Minister and the technical committee of the SSR process. The experts were deployed in October 2007 and will stay for 12 months.
	The EC provided 19.5 million under the ninth European Development Fund (EDF) for SSR, rule of law and administrative reform. A potential 27 million has been allocated under the tenth EDF (2008-2013) for conflict prevention including SSR, administration reform and justice.
	The EU is also currently developing a policy on situations of fragility. Guinea- Bissau is one of the pilot countries.

Iceland: Whales

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Iceland on the resumption of commercial whaling by Iceland.

Meg Munn: holding answer 1 July 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met the Icelandic Prime Minister on 24 April 2008 and during the meeting made clear the UK's disappointment and strength of feeling on this issue.

International Criminal Court

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether mechanisms exist under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court for the UK to refer a situation in a third country to the attention of the Court; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Under article 14 of the Rome Statute, a State Party can refer to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation, a situation in a third State in which one or more crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction appear to have been committed. The effect of article 13 of the Rome Statute is that such a referral can only be made where the third State is a party to the Rome Statute. The UN Security Council (UNSC), acting under chapter VII of the UN charter, can also refer a situation to the ICC Prosecutor. The UK has made no unilateral referrals, but we played a leading role in the UNSC's adoption of UNSC resolution 1593 (March 2005) which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Iran about the arrest of six Baha'is on 14 May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In addition to the EU statement of 14 May which expressed deep concern at the arrests of the Baha'i leadership in Iran, both the UK and the EU highlighted this situation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 6 June and called for the Iranian Government to release them. I raised the issue with the Iranian ambassador to London soon after the arrests. We remain extremely worried by their on-going detention, the lack of access to legal representation and their families and the institutional persecution of members of the Baha'i faith in Iran more broadly. We will continue to stress our concerns about this and have recommended that the EU formally raises this issue once again in its next meeting with the Iranian authorities in Tehran.

Iraq: Entry Clearances

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider introducing visa issuing facilities at the UK consulate in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Our embassies in Amman and Beirut have been designated as the visa-issuing posts for Iraqi nationals (although visit visa applications may be lodged at any UK visa-issuing post around the world). Given the current security situation, there is no prospect of expanding the limited visa service currently available in Iraq in the foreseeable future. We will, however, continue to keep the matter under review as the security situation develops.

Maldives: Chevening Scholarships Programme

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Chevening scholarships were awarded to citizens of the Maldives in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) age of recipient.

Jim Murphy: There has been one Chevening scholar from the Maldives each year since 1997-98, except 2004-05 when there were none, and 2002-03 and 2006-07 when there were two each year. The distribution of all Chevening scholarships is given in the Chevening Programme Annual Reports. The reports for the years from 1998-99 to 2005-06 are available at:
	http://www.chevening.com/about/reports/.
	A breakdown by sex and age of recipient is not held centrally and to provide these details would incur a disproportionate cost.

Middle East: Administration of Justice

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the proportion of arrests in  (a) the Palestinian occupied territories,  (b) Israel,  (c) Saudi Arabia and  (d) Iran which are followed by a case investigation and court hearing.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information. In order to obtain the information we would need to contact the relevant Ministry of Interior or Government office of each country for the information. The information cannot be provided, except at disproportionate cost.
	The UK believes that all trials should be conducted in accordance with international minimum standards.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the British Embassy in Tel Aviv not to entertain leaders of settler communities in the West Bank at public expense.

Kim Howells: holding answer 26 June 2008
	The Government's view on settlements is clear: all settlements are illegal under international law. Reports of recent settlement expansion are at odds with Israel's roadmap commitmentswhich call for a freeze on all settlement constructionand threaten negotiations on a two-state solution. As I made clear in an answer to the House on 24 June, the presence of settlers at the recent party at our embassy in Tel Avivcelebrating Her Majesty the Queen's birthdaydid not send out helpful signals in our efforts to hold Israel to its roadmap commitments on settlements.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), whether the human rights record of Israel in the occupied territories was considered in the discussions on the EU-Israel Association Council in the margins of the GAERC.

Kim Howells: There were no discussions on the human rights record of Israel in the occupied territories during the EU-Israel Association Council.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Steering Committee set up by the Annapolis Agreement of November 2007 has met; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The work of the Steering Committee is ultimately a matter for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but we understand that it has met regularly since November 2007. The Government continue to offer their strong support to both sides as they take discussions forward on all issues in the context of the Annapolis process.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publications Purchasing Section has no record of any subscription to the  Morning Star either in London or overseas.

Pakistan: Terrorism

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Pakistani authorities of the presence of British converts to Islam in areas of Peshawar province associated with militancy.

Kim Howells: The threat from violent extremism in the North-West Frontier province of Pakistan has grown, despite more than 800 members of the Pakistani security forces having lost their lives in the struggle to maintain security. We are committed to helping the Government of Pakistan tackle this threat and have deepened our counter-terrorism co-operation accordingly.
	We would not be able to comment on any personal information received about British nationals in Peshawar in accordance with our data protection obligations. We do, however, maintain close co-operation with the Pakistani authorities concerning the threat from violent extremism.

Palestinians: Overseas Students

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinian students with places to study in the UK who have been unable to obtain permission to leave Gaza in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are aware of nine students who have won places in British universities but cannot leave Gaza due to exit permit problems. The Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Sir Peter Ricketts, raised this issue with the Israeli ambassador on 20 June and my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) raised it with Israeli Diaspora Minister Isaac Herzog recently. As this issue also affects a number of other EU member states, we have also made representations jointly to the Israeli authorities through the European Commission.

Palestinians: Police

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UK is a strong supporter of the EU's civil police training mission. The UK has provided 1.2 million for civil police development this year. With our support, the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories has refurbished Jericho police training centre; completed two women's police courses; begun to roll out public order training to 800 police; and delivered non-lethal equipment such as helmets. The UK is engaged in supporting the development of Palestinian security. At the Berlin conference on 24 June, the UK committed 2.7 million in 2008 and 4.5 million over the next three years to help these efforts.

South Africa: Crimes of Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government on instances of violence against foreigners in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government, through our high commission in Pretoria, have shared our concerns about this violence with the South African authorities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development condemned the violence on 5 June in a speech in South Africa during which he announced 500,000 funding for assistance to migrants in temporary shelters affected by the recent violence.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports on progress towards the establishment of women's desks and community policing programmes in internally displaced persons' camps in Darfur.

Meg Munn: The UN estimates that around 50 per cent. of the planned women's desks have now been established. 66 community policing centres are operational and the UN hope that a further 10 will be upgraded or constructed by the end of the year.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of UNAMID's proposed 6,600 police officers have commenced operations in Darfur; and what assessment he has made of  (a) the Police Commissioner's progress towards achieving a 24-hour patrolling schedule in internally displaced persons' camps in Darfur and  (b) UNAMID's capacity to provide firewood, crop and other patrols outside internally displaced persons' camps in Darfur.

Meg Munn: As of 23 June, 1,680 police officers have deployed to Darfur. There is currently only one fully formed police unit (FPU) made up of 144 officers from Bangladesh. Further FPUs are needed before 24-hour patrols can begin in internally displaced persons' camps in Darfur.
	The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur's capacity to provide firewood, crop and other patrols outside internally displaced persons' camps in Darfur has increased. On 22 June alone, there were 18 confidence building patrols, four escorts, and 21 villages patrolled.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the radio and satellite communications equipment provision of UNAMID units.

Meg Munn: The new communication network (Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)) is still being deployed. We understand from the UN that only four locationsShangil Tobaya, Sarif Umra, Sortoni and Mellitare now without VSAT, but they have microwave links and so can communicate.
	The Friends of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur forum in New York is assisting in the training and equipping of African troop contributing countries, including with communications equipment; the UK is supporting this effort by providing 4 million.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of refugee camps in Darfur where the UN-AU hybrid force does not have a presence; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: There are about 81 internally displaced persons camps in Darfur. We understand that the UN-African Union joint peacekeeping mission currently visits about 66 camps and this figure is likely to rise as the mission deploys in full.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Government of Sudan's compliance with the Status of Forces Agreement for the UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We understand that the Government of Sudan have largely complied with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the UN, the African Union (AU) and the Government of Sudan on 9 February, which provides a legal framework for the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). However, UNAMID officials have raised concerns about intermittent restrictions on UNAMID's freedom of movement imposed by the Government of Sudan on security grounds and about local Government of Sudan officials failing to comply with SOFA provisions. In ministerial and official contacts with the Government of Sudan, we have pressed them to co-operate with UNAMID, including through full compliance with the SOFA.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to ensure that the Government of Sudan comply with the provisions of the Abyei Protocol.

Meg Munn: The two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, signed a Road Map for the Return of internally displaced persons and Implementation of Abyei Protocol on 8 June. We are providing advice on arbitration and stand ready to provide further support to both parties to implement the road map.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government support proposals for a permanent UN military and civilian presence in the Abyei region of Sudan.

Meg Munn: The remit of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the UN agencies in Abyei covers military and security issues, for example support to the new Joint Integrated Unit, and civilian affairs such as reconstruction and development.
	The National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Army agreed a road map on 8 June to resolve their differences over Abyei. The UK is working closely with the UN and other partners to support the parties in successfully implementing the road map. We secured a strengthened mandate for UNMIS in UN Security Council Resolution 1812, which calls on the parties to allow UNMIS unrestricted access and operations in Abyei.
	We will support the UN presence in Abyei as long as they are mandated to operate there and have the support of the parties.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much was paid by his Department to British citizens under the Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004;
	(2)  how many British citizens received help from his Department's Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004;
	(3)  what the  (a) original budget and  (b) actual financial out-turn was for his Department's Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004;
	(4)  what his Department's working estimate is of the cost of the Exceptional Measures for Victims of Terrorist Incidents Overseas scheme in  (a) the 2008-09 financial year and  (b) each of the next three financial years.

Meg Munn: holding answer 5 June 2008
	We did not maintain central records for the provision of financial assistance by our posts within the Aftercare Plan. Reviewing individual case records to determine this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Given the indiscriminate nature of terrorism, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cannot determine in advance when, or how many people might be affected, or what level of support might be required following a terrorist event. For this reason, we do not maintain a working estimate of likely costs. Finance is provided from a range of different budgets appropriate to the identified needs in particular circumstances.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research and analysis his Department carried out into the availability from commercial insurance companies of insurance against acts of terrorism before his decision to replace the Aftercare Plan with exceptional assistance measures; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 5 June 2008
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has regular discussions on the availability and scope of travel cover with the insurance industry through the Association of British Insurers.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens have been the victim of terrorist incidents overseas in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: Since 2001, 190 British nationals have been killed and 156 injured because of terrorist actions overseas. These figures include both British and British dual-nationals. They do not include British nationals killed or injured while serving in the armed forces. These figures identify only those cases where victims have requested assistance, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and we have linked them to a terrorist incident.
	The FCO does not hold records by year relating to the number of British nationals killed or injured overseas as a result of terrorist action. Reviewing individual case records to determine this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Tony Blair

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the right hon. Tony Blair has performed any official activities for his Department since 27 June 2007 to which fees and expenses were attached.

Kim Howells: The right hon. Tony Blair has not performed any official activities on to which fees and expenses were attached to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 27 June 2007.

Wines

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) average cost of wine,  (b) cost and name of the most expensive wine bottle and  (c) cost and name of the most expensive spirit bought for the Government wine cellar was in the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: Between June 2007 and May 2008 the average cost of wine purchased for the Government wine cellar was 15.28 per bottle. The most expensive wine purchased during this period was a red Bordeaux wine, Vieux Chateau Certan 2004. The most expensive spirit purchased was Johnny Walker Black Label whisky.
	The costs for individual items of stock cannot be disclosed because of the commercially sensitive relationships with Government Hospitality's suppliers. Releasing these prices into the public domain may damage Government Hospitality's ability to achieve good value for money.

Wines

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library an inventory of the stock in the Government wine cellar.

Meg Munn: In order to maintain the effective management of the Government wine cellar and to protect commercial interests of Government Hospitality and its suppliers, it will not be possible to place the wine stock list in the Library of the House.

Wines

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the market value of the Government wine cellar.

Meg Munn: The most recent estimate placed the market value of the cellar at approximately 2.4 million.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much timber and how many timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost;
	(2)  how much timber and how many timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) requires its staff and contractors to procure timber from legal or sustainable sources in line with the requirements of Government timber procurement policy. From April 2009, in line with Government policy, the FCO will only procure timber which is legal and sustainable or timber licensed under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade initiative, for use on its estate in the UK or in those European locations covered by a facilities management contract expected to come into effect in December. In all other countries the FCO will continue to source timber from legal and, where possible, sustainable sources.
	I regret that it is not possible to supply information on the amount and cost of timber and timber products incurred in each of the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost.

Zimbabwe: Elections

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from  (a) South African Development Community member states,  (b) the Pan-African Parliament and  (c) other organisations on the number of election monitors (i) required and (ii) likely to be in place for the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Southern African Development Community, the Pan African Parliament and the African Union all sent election observers to Zimbabwe. Despite Morgan Tsvangirai withdrawing from the second round it was important that they remained in country to witness the conditions, including the high levels of violence and intimidation.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have opposed the discussion of the political situation in Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council; and what reasons they have given for that opposition.

David Miliband: The UN Security Council (UNSC) discussed the political situation in Zimbabwe on 23 June, when it issued a presidential statement. This required agreement from all members. It is important that the UNSC continues to remain seized of the need to improve the political situation in Zimbabwe.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many allotments there are in each Lancashire local authority area; and how many should be provided for the population of each such area.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Guidance note 17 Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, 2002 (PPG17) and Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing provide a framework for the protection and provision of all types of open space including allotments. There is no fixed figure for how many allotments should be provided by local authorities per head of population. Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on local authorities to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area.
	Information on the number of allotment sites is not held centrally by Department for Communities and Local Government. However information provided by local authorities in Lancashire advises the following number of allotments:
	
		
			  Local authority  Number of allotment plots 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 398 
			 Blackpool 370 
			 Burnley 306 
			 Chorley 105 
			 Fylde 195 
			 Hyndburn 530 
			 Lancaster 582 
			 Pendle (1)115 
			 Preston 510 
			 Ribble Valley (2)129 
			 Rossendale 55 
			 South Ribble 9 
			 West Lancs 107 
			 Wyre 46 
			 (1) The figure is in respect of Colne in Pendle. All other allotments have fallen under the ownership and management of respective town and parish councils within Pendle. Allotments in Colne and Skipton are also to be transferred to their respective new town councils shortly. (2) The figure is in respect of plots held by Clitheroe town council. All other sites have been transferred to various town and parish councils in the Ribble Valley area. 
		
	
	It should be noted that the management of sites differs between local authorities and in some cases the ownership, management and sometimes land has been transferred to parish and town councils and allotment associations.

Building Disaster Group

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Building Disaster Assessment Group; what reports the group has produced in the last 12 months; what projects it has managed in that time; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: No formal assessment of the effectiveness of the BDAG has been carried out by the Department. The work of the group, has, however, been instrumental in bringing about revisions to Building Regulations Approved Document B, several British Standards, and Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) operational procedures and guidance. Work continues to inform a number of British Standards Reviews and amendments to FRS Generic Risk Assessments and operational practice and guidance.
	The work also informed the evaluation procedures used by the Integrated Clothing Project Garment Trials Working Group. Beyond the FRS the work of the group was, and continues to be, used to inform other emergency service responders' equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and operational practice decisions. The BDAG work has also been used in setting up Home Office funded research programmes evaluating improved monitoring and cooling equipment for all emergency service responders. Using BDAG as a starting point at least one FRS has engaged with university researchers to carry out a programme to identify cooling and post-incident recovery best practice for FRS personnel.
	Within the last 12 months three reports have been finalised which are in process of being published on the Department website. These reports cover two further studies on the physiological impact on firefighters of operational activities and a review of the incident ground communication provision of fire and rescue services. Draft reports have been received on the modelling of fires in under-ventilated compartments and it is intended that these reports be consolidated and published on the Department website once finalised. A further internal report has been prepared into an assessment of alternative methods of advancing hose from a bridgehead during high-rise firefighting. This report has been used to inform preparation of a revision to the generic risk assessment for high-rise firefighting.
	The group continues to manage several projects:
	FR11.24 a review of the provision of firefighting shafts using FRD1 data;
	FR11.25 the interaction between security measures, fire safety strategies and fire service intervention;
	FR23.25 firefighting in under-ventilated compartments;
	FR23.28 revised guidance on high-rise firefighting;
	FR31.07 fire service communication needs within the built environment;
	FR35.19 development of physiological performance criteria for firefighting;
	FR35.21 the provision of human factors expertise.

Carbon Emissions

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 981W, on carbon emissions, what changes have been made successfully to the definition of zero carbon with regard to domestic development.

Iain Wright: The Government have not made any changes to the definition of zero carbon for domestic development as set out in the Building a Greener Future Policy statement since that document was published. The Government have, however, issued revised technical guidance for the Code for Sustainable Homes to ensure that definitions used in the code align both with the policy statement and the definition used for stamp duty land tax relief. The Government have committed to keeping the definition under review and that is the purpose of the forthcoming consultation exercise.

Catering: Planning Permission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) the Planning Inspectorate have provided to local planning authorities on whether catering outlets can open in former retail premises without obtaining a change in use classification.

Iain Wright: Neither the Department nor the Planning Inspectorate has issued any specific guidance on this matter. However, local planning authorities can refer to ODPM Circular 03/2005Changes of Use of Buildings and Land for guidance in relation to the interpretation of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, as amended.
	In general, sandwich bars would be able to open in retail premises without the need for planning permission as both of these uses fall within Class Al: Shops of the Use Classes Order. Most other types of catering outlets, such as cafes, restaurants and hot food take-away premises fall into different use classes, and are likely to require planning permission to open in premises which have been in Class Al use.
	It is for local planning authorities to determine in the first instance whether a material change of use has occurred or would occur, and also whether planning permission is required. These decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances.

Community Development

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the risk management toolkit for asset transfer referred to on page 49 of the report entitled, The Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, published in February 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: One of the recommendations of the Quirk review was the publication of a risk management toolkit for asset transfer, in order to advise local authorities on how to identify and manage the risks that are involved in asset transfer. The toolkit, Managing risks in asset transfer: a guide will be published before the summer recess.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will publish the research on bridging activities that bring people from different backgrounds together, referred to in her letter of 6 October 2007 to the Chairman of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion.

Parmjit Dhanda: Predictors of community cohesion: multi-level modelling of the 2005 Citizenship Survey was published in February 2008 and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/predictorscohesion

Council Tax: Armed Forces

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether military service personnel are obliged to pay council tax  (a) if they return from a tour of duty early due to injury and  (b) while they are convalescing in hospital after incurring an injury on a tour of duty; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Council tax is a devolved matter. In England council tax liability falls on the resident of a dwelling which is considered to be, by the local authority, the resident's sole or main residence. Military service personnel who would otherwise be liable for council tax are not relieved of that liability by virtue of returning early from a tour of duty due to injury. Where any person is in hospital for such a long period that the hospital in which they are receiving care or treatment has become their sole or main residence, a dwelling that they have left empty is exempt from council tax if it was previously their sole or main residence.

Council Tax: Tax Yield

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of people paid council tax in each local authority in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The data are not held centrally.

Council Tax: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model is used to assist with council tax valuations of domestic properties in England.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1669W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) her Department have made of the number of dwellings in (i) England and (ii) Wales which are over-valued for council tax banding purposes.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 964W, which outlined the position in England. Council tax in Wales is a devolved matter.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by her Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: While the Department undertook various major refurbishment projects in excess of 0.5 million during this period, it was not considered appropriate to apply the BREEAM assessment method to these. This was due largely to projects consisting of repairs to and replacements of existing assets. Where opportunities existed, sustainability considerations were rigorously applied. For example, a project involving re-planning office floors and trialling flexible desking included the procurement of chairs manufactured from materials which were 47 per cent. recycled and 98 per cent. recyclable.
	No new builds were completed during this period.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of 0.5 million were completed by her Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Parmjit Dhanda: This Department has not completed any new builds in these periods.
	The number of major refurbishments completed were:
	
		
			   Number of projects 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 2

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by her Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Consultants

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tonbridge Wells of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1034W, on Connect Public Affairs, for what reasons it was decided that such activities should be carried out by a commercial consultancy.

Parmjit Dhanda: Following a review of its communications strategy in 2004, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit decided to seek proposals to manage a series of events ranging from small study tours to major national conferences. By procuring a single organisation to manage an integrated programme of events, NRU were able to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach that encouraged sharing of best practice across programmes.

Departmental Consultants

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on consultancy fees in 2007-08; and how much it expects to spend in 2008-09.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information on consultancy fees for 2007-08 can be found in the Department's annual report for that year, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The figures for 2008-09 will be published in the 2009 report.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expert groups her Department has set up in each year since it was established.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual 'Public Bodies' publication. 'Public Bodies' also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of 'Public Bodies' dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp.
	Copies are also available in the Library.
	The publication 'Department for Communities and Local Government's Public Bodies for 2007' contains the most recent information about public bodies sponsored by the Department, current as at 31 March 2007. This is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/612539.pdf.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value of her Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Parmjit Dhanda: At the latest audited date31 March 2007the value of computer systems in the Department's accounts was 21.4 million. The value of these systems was 42.4 million at the time of purchase. The Department compiles its accounts consistent with HM Treasury's Financial Reporting Manual (FreM).

Departmental Property

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on  (a) new capital investment and  (b) refurbishment of property in each of the last 10 years, broken down by project.

Parmjit Dhanda: This Department has not made any new capital investments.
	This Department and its predecessor spend on refurbishment is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  CLG 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Open Space Works inc flexible desking pilot142,999 2,625,851 4,883,632 
			
			 Space planning reorganisation HMD, HR and FRD 136,663 443,826 
			
			  Allington Towers   
			 General refurbishment on occupation of building   114,969
			 Replace ceiling tiles  112,568 
			
			  Ashdown House   
			 Window cleaning cradle  385,483 
			 Disability access works (teapoints)  184,723 
			 Replace fire alarm hardware and software   104,571 121,301   
			 Disability access works (lifts)134,157   
			 Machinery of Government reorganisation 151,708 - 
			
			  Eland House   
			 Additional conference rooms 266,930  
			 Space Planning Reorganisation 6th/7th floors 977,565  
			 Atria Improvements  431,516 
			 Replace fire alarm hardware  130,474 
			 Space planning/reorganisation 5th, 8th  9th floors1,753,180   
			 Disability access work (lifts)296,311   
			 Replace fire alarm hardware and software176,033 311,122  
			 Smoke duct work at Eland House 146,145  
			 Machinery of Government reorganisation 229,149  
			
			  Burlington House   
			 External works   369,120 2,407,249 583,858  
			 Total 1,381,158 1,576,022 588,660 5,031,230 4,047,833 4,996,200 
		
	
	
		
			  Agencies 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Fire Service College   
			 Redevelopment of the breathing apparatus servicing area   296,000
			 Development of the simulation suite338,000   
			 Investment in IT infrastructure65,000   
			 Street lighting and CCTV247,000   
			 General site improvements107,000   
			 Restaurant refurbishment 401,000  
			 General site improvements 121,000  
			 Refurbishment of kitchens 87,000  
			
			  QEII CC   
			 Conference room and dining furniture 151,000  
			 Goods lift refurbishment 170,000  
			 Rewiring 29,000  
			 Refurbishment of floors 1 to 4  1,425,000 
			 Furniture  525,000 38,000 39,000 6,000  
			 Lift refurbishment  170,000 
			 Refurbishment of toilets   356,000
			 Lift and air conditioning refurbishments   1,084,000   68,000 
			 Air conditioning refurbishments1,468,000 985,000  
			 Installation of disabled toilet facilities41,000   
			 Installation of energy efficiency lighting in Churchill auditorium 223,000  
			 Theatre lighting refurbishment  320,000 
			 Third floor cabling renewal  773,000 
			 Fleming and Whittle seating capacity expansion  225,000 
			 Total 350,000 2,120,000 1,774,000 2,305,000 1,823,000 1,386,000

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the standard retirement age in her Department is; and how many people in her Department and its predecessor worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government removed the mandatory retirement age for staff below the senior civil service grades with effect from 1 October 2006.
	Prior to this the Department operated a mandatory retirement age of 65 and our records show that during the period April 2004-April 2006 no civil servants in grade 6 or below continued in post beyond 65 years of age.
	The Cabinet Office has a civil service wide default retirement age of 65 for staff in the senior civil service grades. Our records show that during the period April 2004-April 2008 no staff in the senior civil service grades continued in post beyond 65 years of age.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what procedures her Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department requires all inward secondees to complete a diversity monitoring form. Some secondments will follow a selection process which operates on merit. We are currently reviewing our interchange arrangements, with a particular focus on encouraging secondments from our stakeholder organisations, who are often more representative of the communities we serve.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much sick pay to staff in her Department and its predecessor cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The general rule is that employees on sick leave are entitled to be paid at their normal rate of pay for any periods of sick leave which in any 12-month period do not exceed six months, and at one half their normal rate of pay for any periods of sick leave which, in any 48-month period, exceed six but do not exceed 12 months.
	Because of the way that data have been entered on our payroll system it is not possible to provide this information other than at a disproportionate cost.

Eco-towns

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 983W, on eco-towns, whether the Homes and Communities Agency will act as a local planning authority for any of the eco-town developments as part of its leadership role.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1201W. We would expect all applications for eco-towns to be considered as a normal planning application by the appropriate local planning authority unless called in by the Secretary of State.
	We see the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) being able to take a leadership role in helping to deliver some of the eco-towns and playing a major role in supporting local authorities, and working with bidders to review and refine detailed proposals as they are developed. However, it is not envisaged that the HCA's leadership role will include acting as a local planning authority for any of the eco-town developments and there are currently no plans to designate any area and confer any planning functions upon the HCA.

Eco-towns: Public Participation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's YouGov poll on eco-towns, how many people were questioned; how those questioned were selected; where those questioned lived; what questions they were asked; and from which socio-economic groups they were drawn.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 3 July 2008
	 With reference to the Department's recent YouGov poll on eco-towns, I can confirm:
	1. The poll is based on a sample of 1,693 respondents
	2. Respondents volunteered to answer a range of questions, including those about eco-towns, through the YouGov online panel
	3. The respondent sample was created to be broadly representative of geographic communities across England
	4. Respondents were asked the following questions:
	Q1. Which of the following terms/expressions have you seen or heard of?carbon footprint, biodegradable, affordable housing, sustainable development, Eco-towns, zero-carbon, Act On CO2
	Q2. How much do you know about eco-towns?
	Q3. To what extent do you support the development of eco-towns in England? To what extent do you support the development an eco-town within five miles of your home?
	Q4. If you were to consider moving home, to what extent would the energy efficiency and the environmental impact of properties influence your decision?
	Q5. And to what extent do you feel there is affordable housing within five miles of your home (e.g. affordable housing for first-time buyers, families and the retired, including social housing and private housing etc)?
	5. The respondent sample was created to be broadly representative of socio-economic groups across England.

Empty Property

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assistance she is providing to help local housing authorities to purchase suitable empty properties on the housing market to house people who are homeless or on housing waiting lists.

Iain Wright: Funding is not being targeted directly at local authorities to enable them to purchase empty properties. In the current market the Housing Corporation is facilitating registered social landlords to purchase homes from developers and we have earmarked 200 million to fund this. Social homes provided through this route will help meet housing needs within local authority areas.
	In April 2007, Communities and Local Government and GLA provided 30 million for the Settled Homes Initiative which will enable six schemes in London to purchase around 900 empty homes and convert them over time into quality settled social housing.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the software for producing display energy certificates assessments has been finalised.

Caroline Flint: Yes. Display energy certificates are being lodged on public sector buildings.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for display energy certificates to be compulsory for buildings.

Caroline Flint: Public sector buildings are required to have a display energy certificate by 1 October 2008.

European Charter of Regional Self-Government

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in discussions on a European charter for regional self-government.

John Healey: The Council of Europe's (CoE) Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional government, at its 2005 Budapest meeting, recognised that the then proposed Charter for Regional Self-Government did not have the degree of political support necessary for adoption.
	I am aware that CoE's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its May 2008 meeting recommended a draft Charter of Regional Democracy to the CoE's Committee of Ministers who are now considering their response. The United Kingdom Government do not support such a charter, nor do they believe it would be right to recognise it in an international legally binding convention.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 17W, on the Fair Trade initiative, how much her Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this total was spent on Fair Trade products.

Parmjit Dhanda: Expenditure on refreshments for departmental meetings and engagements held at CLG' s HQ offices are as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure on refreshments () 
			 2005-06 360,596.34 
			 2006-07 399,176.31 
			 2007-08 381,843.57 
		
	
	Expenditure on Fairtrade products is not separately identified from non-Fairtrade products and therefore the percentage totals spent on Fairtrade products is not available.

Fire Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to monitor the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) timeliness of the implementation of Fire and Rescue Services' Integrated Risk Management Plans; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities.
	The Audit Commission has responsibility for monitoring and assessing the performance of the fire and rescue service in meeting both the needs of local communities and national performance expectations set out in the National Framework.

Fire Services: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 541-42W, on fire services, whether fire and rescue authorities will be liable for cost over-runs arising after the cut-over to the regional fire control centres.

Parmjit Dhanda: Government are committed to meeting the costs incurred by the Fire Service in making preparations for cut-over to FiReControl. They have also undertaken to put in place arrangements to ensure that no region will incur costs over and above those of running the existing control rooms once the Fire Control network goes live. Details of the arrangements are set out in the Communities and Local Government Business Case Part 1 that I have placed in the House Library which includes a regional case for each region.
	A copy of the full Business Case will be placed in the Library later this summer.

Flood Control

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether large-scale flood plain management projects will be dealt with by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, with particular reference to projects proposed in the Llandrinio area of the Marches.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to my response to him during Third Reading of the Planning Bill on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 453. Flood plain management projects will not be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the reasons for the take-up rates of home condition reports as part of the voluntary element of home information packs.

Caroline Flint: We are considering home condition reports, including their rate of take-up, as part of the work of our Stakeholder Panel to improve the home buying and selling process.

Housing Associations: Standards

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements her Department has put in place to ensure that housing associations are able to provide urgent alternative accommodation to tenants in exceptional or life-threatening circumstances; and what steps she may take in respect of a housing association which persistently does not offer such alternative accommodation to its tenants.

Iain Wright: Housing associations have a statutory duty to assist local authorities in meeting housing need and to provide good quality, responsive services; these are requirements of the Housing Corporation's Regulatory Code and guidance. The Regulatory Code expects associations to be responsive to the individual characteristics and circumstances of residents and provide vulnerable and marginalised residents with appropriate responsive housing services. Where associations fail to meet these requirements, the Housing Corporation has powers to take a range of actions. These may include reassessing an association's risk rating, which could have an impact on its relationships with stakeholders, including local authorities and lenders. If an association is a grant recipient, its fitness to develop might also be reviewed.
	Associations are actively encouraged to sign up to the Respect Standard for Housing Management and to be active participants in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, to ensure that victims and witnesses of crime, and other vulnerable residents, receive the support they need.
	Most social landlords are now members of choice based lettings (CBL) schemes. CBL schemes work to deliver good outcomes for vulnerable tenants, for example by giving priority to those with an urgent need to move. Outcomes in CBL schemes are transparent, so that delivery performance for vulnerable groups can be benchmarked. The Audit Commission also looks at delivery for victims of crime and nuisance, as part of housing management inspections.
	The Housing and Regeneration Bill, currently in the other place, establishes a new Tenant Services Authority, with tenants at the heart of its remit. The authority will have significant new powers, to ensure that landlords who fail to deliver a good service to their tenants are dealt with in an effective and proportionate matter.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of the downturn in the housing market on demand for each of the three Homebuy products.

Caroline Flint: In the current market conditions it remains very difficult for first-time buyers to afford to purchase a property on the open market, and the role of Government schemes in helping people get a foot on the property ladder is more relevant than ever.
	The Government's Low Cost Home Ownership scheme 'HomeBuy' which is based on equity sharing has helped some 35,000 people over the two years 2006-08. The range of products available under the scheme have helped to make home ownership affordable to first-time buyers, and enabled purchasers to get a foot on the property ladder.
	From 1 April 2008 we have made two new equity loan products available under the Open Market HomeBuy scheme. They offer first-time buyers an affordable entry point into home ownership. Indications are that interest in these products remains high, as over 7,000 applications have been received for the new shared equity loan products since their launch.
	In addition, the Housing Corporation continues to encourage RSLs to bid for New Build HomeBuy schemes in order to offer purchasers the opportunity to enter into home ownership with shares from as little as 25 per cent.
	We continue to keep the HomeBuy products and their delivery under careful review to ensure that they offer value for money and are suitable for purchasers in the current market.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government why  (a) LPS or PAS standard products and  (b) the Secure by Design accreditation are no longer elements of the Code for Sustainable Homes or its predecessor standard.

Iain Wright: The Secured by Design standard is incorporated into the Code for Sustainable Homes in the security section of the management component.
	The Secured by Design standard does, in turn, refer to LPS and PAS security standards as appropriate.

Housing: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new dwellings were built on brownfield land in the Thames Gateway area in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There is currently no information on how many homes were built on brownfield land in the Thames Gateway in 2007. This information is not yet available at a regional level due to the robustness of the Land Use Change Statistics data which are used to calculate the percentage of dwellings on brownfield land.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria were used to determine the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme Grant 2008.

John Healey: I made a written ministerial statement, announcing payments under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme, on 26 June. The basis on which these payments were calculated is set out in a technical note which I published on 2 April.
	The statement can be viewed on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/labgi/statement080626.pdf
	and the technical note at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/labgi/technote0708.pdf

Local Government Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what ways local authorities are compensated for an increased population due to inward migration.

Parmjit Dhanda: The distribution of formula grant to local authorities takes into account measures of population, as well as other socio-economic factors. These measures of population take account of both inward and outward migration.
	In some areas the rate and scale of change will have an impact on local communities and services. My Department has recently published Managing the Impacts of Migration: A Cross-Government Approach which sets out the Government's support for local authorities and their partners. This includes introducing a new Transitional Impacts of Migration Fund to build capacity in local service providers and support innovative projects from 2009-10. My Department is also providing 50 million over the next three years to support community cohesion including tackling particular areas of tension, providing positive activities for young people, and supporting local cohesion projects.

Local Government: Manpower

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were employed by each local authority in England on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people were employed by each local authority in England on the most recent date for which figures are available. (215436)
	The Office for National Statistics collects employment statistics for the public sector, including Local Authorities in England and Wales, as part of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey.
	The results of this survey are published in aggregate as part of the Public Sector Employment First Release. The latest published statistics are for March 2008.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pse0608.pdf
	The published statistics provide totals for the UK by sector classification, industry and Civil Service department. Statistics are not available for individual Local Authorities.
	I am sorry I cannot be of more assistance on this occasion.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 977W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, what property attributes or datasets are used to quantify a dwellings sublocation for the purpose of council tax valuations in the automated valuation model.

John Healey: Sub-location, as applied in non-domestic rating, is not used by the Valuation Office Agency in respect of council tax.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much revenue has been accrued in car park charges in each local authority in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the total income from off-street parking reported by each local authority in England in the last three years.
	Aggregate information for England is published in editions of Local Government Financial Statistics and the information is drawn from the Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns.
	Total income from off-street parking is defined as the sales, fees and charges and other income from the operation and maintenance of all car parks. The majority of this income is from car park charges.
	Information on off-street parking for years prior to 2004-05 is not held centrally.

Parking: Tickets

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice she has given local authorities on the design specifications of car parking ticket machines, with particular reference to the provision of change.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The design of car parking ticket machines is for local authorities and their suppliers to determine. There are several British and European standards for this sort of equipment that local authorities may refer to when deciding what machines to use. The Department for Transport has not issued any further advice on the subject.

Planning

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether planning aid is available only to  (a) groups and  (b) individuals.

Iain Wright: Planning aid provides free, independent planning advice to individuals and community groups including small charities, voluntary groups and tenants' organisations.
	Planning aid also assists social enterprises and other not-for-profit businesses, but does not normally provide planning advice to businesses which seek to make a profit.

Poverty

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have a public service agreement stretch target relating to  (a) fuel poverty,  (b) pensioner poverty and  (c) child poverty; and what the terms of the stretch target is in each case.

John Healey: Local authorities agreed stretch targets as part of stand-alone local public service agreements (LPSA) and the first three rounds of local area agreements (LAA).
	The text of all LPSAs are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/performanceframeworkpartnerships/localareaagreements/localpublicservice/secondgeneration/finalagreements/
	The text of the first three rounds of LAAs is available on the Improvement and Development Agency for local government's website at:
	http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1174198

Property Development: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of dwellings under the Government's plans for  (a) growth areas and  (b) designated new development sites will be located within an area of (i) medium and (ii) significant flood risk.

Caroline Flint: Government do not set the local spatial location of housing development. This is set by local authorities through their local development frameworks as part of regional and local planning processes. It is for local authorities to determine issues in relation to development in areas of flood risk, advised by the Environment Agency. PPS25, planning policy for development and flood risk, provides a strong and strategic framework for planning authorities to avoid and manage flood risk to new development.
	In addition, for growth areas, growth points and eco-towns my Department works closely with the Environment Agency to minimise the risk of large-scale development occurring in areas of significant flood risk.

Property: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic or composite properties in England have an entry on the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model database; and how many have one or more photographs recorded on the digital photography application.

John Healey: The number of domestic, including composite, properties in England with a live council tax band entry in the Valuation Office Agency's central database was 22,539,701 as at 8 June 2008. Of these, 803,167 had one or more digital photographs associated with them. The Agency's central database stores the data that feed into its automated valuation modelling.

Public Places: Lighting

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will publish an annex to Planning Policy Statement 23 in respect of lighting in public places.

Iain Wright: We currently have no plans to publish an annex to Planning Policy Statement 23: Planning and Pollution Control to cover light pollution.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the local education authority settlement in Devon was per pupil in  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08; and what it will be in 2008-09.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is as follows:
	 (a) and  (b) (i) The revenue funding figures per pupil in 2005-06 in cash terms for Devon local authority are as follows:
	
		
			   Primary (aged 3-10)  Secondary (aged 11-15) 
			 Devon 3,590 4,320 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with 2005-06 figures quoted above because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 2005-06 figures quoted in the first table are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through CLG's (formerly DCLG) Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06this is the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted as follows; as aforementioned this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. As the DSG is a mechanism for distributing funding a primary/secondary split is not available. The figures are for all funded pupils aged 3 to 19 and are in cash terms.
	 (a) and  (b) (ii)  (iii) The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 to 2008- 09 allocated to Devon local authority are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Devon 
			 2005-06 DSG plus grants(baseline) 3,630 
			 2006-07 DSG plus grants 3,860 
			 2007-08 DSG plus grants 4,120 
			 2008-09 DSG plus grants 4,270

Recreation Spaces: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will provide a breakdown by main budget heading of expenditure under the auspices of the Thames Gateway Parklands programme in the current financial year  (a) by project and  (b) by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The three sub-regional Thames Gateway Green Grid Partnerships have been invited to submit business plans by the 18 July to Communities and Local Government for projects which they would like to receive funding for from the Parklands budget of 35 million. Until we receive completed business plans, we will not have not have a clear picture of exactly how the funding will be spent. Allocations will be announced in the autumn.

Sleeping Rough

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the number of rough sleepers is, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) age group.

Iain Wright: The 2007 estimate of the number of rough sleepers in England showed 498 people sleeping rough on any single nighta 73 per cent. reduction on the 1998 baseline. The estimate is based on the results of local authority street counts in those areas where a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem has been identified.
	We do not hold national data on the proportion of rough sleepers who are male or female or their age group. However, there is specific data for London provided under the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) recording system which is separate to our estimate provided by the rough sleeping count. In 2007-08, for those rough sleepers in London contacted by services, CHAIN records show around 87 per cent. of rough sleepers to be male and 13 per cent. to be female. The breakdown by age is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Under 18 years 0 
			 18-25 years 7 
			 26-35 years 28 
			 36-45 years 34 
			 46-55 years 19 
			 Over 55 years 11

Social Security Benefits

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation took place prior to taking the decision to limit payment of benefits to three years under the recently laid Ill Health Amendment Regulations.

Parmjit Dhanda: As required by section 7 of the Superannuation Act 1972, a statutory consultation took place from 21 November 2007 to 12 January 2008 with interested parties in England and Wales on draft proposals to amend the Local Government Pension Scheme. There were also extensive discussions with stakeholders concerning the development of the new ill health provisions prior to and beyond the consultation period. The Local Government (Amendment) Regulations 2008, including the terms for new ill health benefits, took effect from 1 April 2008.

Squatting: Publications

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department's library holds a copy of the Squatters Handbook produced by the Advisory Service for Squatters.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Communities and Local Government Library does not hold a copy of the handbook.

Valuation Office: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 5 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1086W, on Valuation Office: databases, if she will list each of the property attributes that are being collected from the digitisation process.

John Healey: The purpose of the project in question is to produce scanned images of existing hard-copy records, not to collect property attributes.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much timber and timber products were procured by her Department and its predecessors in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much timber and timber products were procured by her Department and its predecessors originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold this information centrally and would only be able to gather it at disproportionate cost. However, the Department actively seeks to buy all wood and wood products (including furniture) from legal and sustainable sources. The Department's Sustainable Operations Policy includes the following clauses:
	We will ensure that all wood is either reclaimed, recycled or obtained from legally harvested trees and from sustainably managed forests where possible. From April 2009, we will also ensure that only timber and timber products originating either from independently verified legal and sustainable or from a licensed Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) partner will be used on the estate. The appropriate documentation will be requested from partners to confirm this.
	We will follow guidance as applicable from the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) procurement website, operated by ProForest. We will also put procedures in place to monitor timber procurement policies and exchange information and examples of best practice with other government departments and agencies.
	This policy has also been circulated for adoption and compliance to the Department's Executive agencies.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Cervical Cancer: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) the west midlands in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many women have been diagnosed with cervical cancer in (a) Tamworth and (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years.
	The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer registered in England are for the year 2005. Figures for female patients diagnosed with cervical cancer for the years 2001 to 2005 for a) Tamworth local authority and b) West Midlands government office region are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cervical cancer( 1) , females, Tamworth local authority and West Midlands government office region, 2001-2005 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Tamworth 5 5 8 6 2 
			 West Midlands 309 264 263 264 240 
			 (1) Cervical cancer is defined by code C53 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source: Office for National Statistics

Death: Children

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths of children there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by cause and ranked by frequency of cause.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths of children there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by cause and ranked by frequency of cause. (216377)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths of children aged under 16 years by cause, for 2002 to 2006 (the latest year available). The figures are ranked by the overall frequency of each cause across the period.
	
		
			  Table 1: Deaths of children aged under 16 years,( 1)  by underlying cause,( 2)  England and Wales, 2002 to 2006( 3) 
			  Deaths 
			  Cause  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2002- 06 
			 Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities 382 366 338 376 368 1830 
			 Symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions 256 238 259 263 231 1247 
			 Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period 205 199 220 194 159 977 
			 Land transport accidents 169 157 158 153 143 780 
			 Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue 121 101 80 69 86 457 
			 Malignant neoplasm of brain 82 90 82 79 88 421 
			 Meningitis 80 106 70 78 54 388 
			 Influenza and pneumonia 70 72 58 78 70 348 
			 Cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes 62 68 56 71 84 341 
			 Accidental threats to breathing 54 62 49 53 49 267 
			 Septicaemia 46 50 63 43 47 ¦ 249 
			 Epilepsy and status epilepticus 46 48 48 44 42 228 
			 Systemic atrophies primarily affecting the central nervous system 36 34 32 39 38 179 
			 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 34 30 43 29 41 177 
			 Cardiomyopathy 24 42 23 34 45 168 
			 Suicide and injury/poisoning of undetermined intent 35 38 27 32 25 157 
			 Cerebrovascular diseases 31 28 27 35 30 151 
			 Accidental drowning and submersion 32 36 17 32 26 143 
			 Benign neoplasms, in situ and uncertain behaviour 31 19 28 31 28 137 
			 Homicide and probable homicide 27 29 27 25 27 135 
			 Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage 26 28 31 18 19 122 
			 Acute respiratory diseases other than influenza and pneumonia 24 15 33 17 21 110 
			 Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease 20 19 19 11 18 87 
			 Appendicitis, hernia and intestinal obstruction 15 20 15 8 15 73 
			 Accidental fails 13 18 10 14 17 72 
			 Pulmonary heart disease and diseases of pulmonary circulation 18 13 13 10 16 70 
			 Cirrhosis and other diseases of liver 12 9 19 16 10 66 
			 Malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis 4 19 13 12 11 59 
			 Diseases of the urinary system 9 13 11 9 12 54 
			 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 6 14 14 10 10 54 
			 Pulmonary oedema and other intestinal pulmonary diseases 8 11 8 7 12 46 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use 19 6 7 5 3 40 
			 Vaccine-preventable diseases 6 3 12 8 9 38 
			 Accidental poisoning 4 5 7 8 7 31 
			 Intestinal infectious diseases 1 5 6 9 4 25 
			 Malignant neoplasm of liver and intraheptic bile ducts 4 8 7 3 3 25 
			 Cardiac arrhythmias 3 3 6 4 5 21 
			 Ischaemic heart diseases 3 4 2 5 6 20 
			 Diabetes 4 3 5 5 1 18 
			 Disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-based balance (dehydration) 4 7 2 0 2 15 
			 Tuberculosis 1 1 4 5 3 14 
			 Non-rheumatic valve disorders 1 2 3 5 3 14 
			 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease 3 4 3 1 3 14 
			 Cardiac arrest 2 0 3 3 2 10 
			 Malnutrition and nutritional anaemias 1 2 1 0 5 9 
			 Aortic aneurysm and dissection 1 3 1 1 2 8 
			 Chronic rheumatic heart diseases 0 1 1 2 2 6 
			 Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin 3 1 2 0 0 6 
			 Malignant neoplasm of bladder 0 0 1 2 1 4 
			 Respiratory failure 0 0 2 0 1 3 
			 Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung 1 0 1 0 1 3 
			 Vector-borne diseases and rabies 1 0 1 1 0 3 
			 Malignant neoplasm of ovary 1 1 0 0 0 2 
			 Malignant neoplasm of stomach 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Malignant neoplasm of prostate 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder and other parts of biliary tract 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Non-intentional firearm discharge 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Other 544 563 518 469 562 2,656 
			 Total 2,587 2,614 2,486 2,427 2,468 12,582 
			 (1) Selected using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code groups based on a list published in 2005: Griffiths C, Rooney C and Brock A (2005) Leading causes of death in England and Waleshow should we group causes? Health Statistics Quarterly 28, p 6-17. (2) For the purposes of mortality statistics, children are defined as persons under the age of 16. Figures exclude deaths at ages under 28 days. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Death: Prostate Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many men died from prostate cancer in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many men died from prostate cancer in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years. (216756)
	The table attached provides the numbers of deaths where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death in  (a) Lancashire county, and  (b) England from 2004 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Number of deaths where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death( 1) , Lancashire county and England, 2004-2006( 2,3) 
			  Deaths (males) 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			 Lancashire 167 189 175 
			 England 8,531 8,492 8,506 
			 (1) Cause of death for prostate cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10)code C61. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Death: Weather

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people resident in Tamworth Borough Council area over the age of 65 years died during the winter months in each year since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people resident in Tamworth Borough Council area over the age of 65 years died during the winter months in each year since 2004. (215768)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths in winter (the months December to March inclusive) of people resident in Tamworth local authority district over the age of 65, for the years 2003/04 to 2005/06 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Deaths in winter of persons over the age of 65( 1) , Tamworth district( 2) , 2003/04 to 2005/06 
			  Winter  Deaths 
			 2003-04 146 
			 2004-05 161 
			 2005-06 170 
			 (1) Deaths in winter were defined as those occurring in December of one year, plus those occurring in January to March of the following year. (2) Using boundaries as of 2008 for all years.

Employment: Mothers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many mothers are in employment.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many mothers are in employment. (215787)
	Estimates are provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets. In the period April-June 2007, there were 4.8 million women with dependent children in employment.
	The figure has not been adjusted for women with unknown economic activity status. It includes biological mothers, step-mothers and adoptive mothers with dependent children that live in the same household as them. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never married and are in full-time education. Foster mothers, women with non-dependent children, and those whose children live in a separate household are not included.
	There are currently no annual household datasets available. The figure given is or the April-June quarter, to be consistent with statistics published in the 'Work and worklessness among household First Release' (see web link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/work0807.pdf)
	The household datasets are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in February and March 2003. They do not incorporate the more recent population estimates used in the main quarterly LFS microdatasets.
	The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Food: Prices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of changes in the average retail price of  (a) bread,  (b) butter,  (c) milk,  (d) eggs and  (e) flour, since June 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has made of changes in the average retail price of a) bread, b) butter, c) milk, d) eggs and e) flour since June 2007. (216149)
	These data can be viewed at the following link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/tsdtimezone.asp
	By selecting 'Consumer Price Indices' and then '3.1: RPI average retail prices of selected items' the historic average retail prices for each of the above items can be viewed

Lone Parents: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London Borough of Bexley and  (c) London.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford, (b) the London Borough of Bexley and (c) London. (216226)
	The number of lone parent families in the UK with children under 16 can be estimated using the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The table below shows 2007 estimates for the London Borough of Bexley and London. Estimates cannot be provided for the Parliamentary Constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford because the number of lone parents sampled in this area was too small.
	
		
			  Number of lone parent families with children under 16 
			   Numbe r (Thousand) 
			 London Borough of Bexley 6 
			 London 268 
			  Source: LFS quarterly data, April to June, not seasonally adjusted

Personal Income

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) women and  (b) men earned below the lower earnings limit in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) women and (b) men earned below the lower earnings limit in each year of the last five years. (216355)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. ASHE methodology cannot be used to provide estimates of the numbers of employees whose earnings is less than a specific amount, but can be used to provide estimates of percentage of employees in that category. Estimates are for single jobs and not for total employment earnings.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	I attach a table showing the percentage of UK employees earning below the lower earnings limit for the years 2003-2007.
	
		
			  Employee jobs( 1)  earning below the lower earnings limit, United Kingdom 
			All employees (percentage)  Full-time employees (percentage)  Part-time employees (percentage) 
			   Lower Earnings Limit  ( per week)  All  Male  Female  All  Male  Female  All  Male  Female 
			 2003 77 6 3 10 0.1 0.1 0.1 25 31 24 
			 2004 79 6 3 9 0.1 0.1 0.1 23 27 23 
			 2005 82 7 3 11 0.1 0.1 0.1 26 29 25 
			 2006 84 7 3 10 0.1 0.1 0.1 25 28 24 
			 2007 87 7 3 10 0.1 0.1 0.1 24 27 24 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Prostate Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) Lancashire and (b) England in each of the last three years
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of prostate cancer are for the year 2005. Figures requested are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer( 1)  registered in Lancashire county and England, 2003 to 2005 
			   Lancashire  England 
			 2003 724 28,074 
			 2004 821 30,320 
			 2005 874 28,886 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded to C61 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source: Office for National Statistics

Prostate Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many men were given chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many men were given chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer in (a) Lancashire and (b) England in each of the last three years
	The latest year for which data are available is 2005. The table below shows, for 2003-2005, the number of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer receiving chemotherapy treatment. The national cancer registration system has chemotherapy treatment recorded for 4.3 per cent of prostate patients in Lancashire county compared to 2.9 per cent in England for the period 2003-05. In 45 per cent of prostate cancer cases in the national cancer registry database for 2003-05, either no treatment information was recorded or patients were recorded as having had no treatment.
	
		
			  Newly diagnosed cases of prostate( 1)  cancer receiving chemotherapy treatment( 2)  in Lancashire county and England, 2003-05 
			   Lancashire  England 
			 2003 10 411 
			 2004 72 1,156 
			 2005 22 980 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded to C61 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Cancer registration data for this period are probably not sufficiently robust to accurately identify small differences in non-surgical treatment.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Prostate Cancer: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) Tamworth and (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years.
	The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer registered in England are for the year 2005. Figures for male patients diagnosed with prostate cancer for the years 2001 to 2005 for a) Tamworth local authority and b) West Midlands government office region are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer( 1) , males, Tamworth local authority and West Midlands government office region, 2001-2005 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Tamworth 34 45 42 53 52 
			 West Midlands 3,083 3,241 3,274 3,502 3,350 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is defined by code C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source: Office for National Statistics

Shipbuilding: Manpower

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997; and how many people aged (i) 25 years and under and (ii) 26 years and over there were in each category.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 July 2008:
	.
	The definitive source for the number of people employed is normally the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, because of the interest in the shipbuilding industry, estimates of the number of jobs have been compiled from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI/1). Because the ABI/1 cannot provide a breakdown by age, figures for the proportion of total employees aged 25 years or under have been estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS).
	The attached table provides an estimate of jobs in the building and repairing of ships industry (Standard Industrial Classification (1992/2003) 3155) for England and the North East for each year from 1997 to 2006, the most recent available. Estimates for South Tyneside and Jarrow are not available.
	Figures from the ABI/1 do not include self-employed jobs and therefore these estimates will understate the actual total number of jobs.
	As with any survey, results from the ABI/1 and APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Number of jobs in the building and repairing of ships industry1,2 and the proportion of employees aged 25 years or under3 
			  Thousands and percen tage , not seasonally adjusted 
			   England  North East 
			   Count  Percentage  aged 25 and under  Count  Per cent age  aged 25 and under 
			 1997(4) 21 9 4 15 
			 1998 23 6 4 (5) 
			 1999 20 12 2 9 
			 2000 20 9 2 19 
			 2001 20 11 2 (5) 
			 2002 21 13 2 9 
			 2003 18 7 2 (5) 
			 2004 18 14 1 21 
			 2005 17 11 2 (5) 
			 2006 17 9 1 (5) 
			 (1) Standard Industrial Classification (1992/2003) 3511. (2) The Annual Business Inquiry does not include estimates of self-employment jobs. Therefore the estimates provided will be lower than the actual total. (3) Derived from the total employees aged 16 and over (Annual Population). (4) Counts for 1997 are based on estimates from the rescaled Annual Employment Survey and therefore there is a discontinuity between 1997 and 1998. (5) Sample size too small to provide an estimate.  Notes: 1. Annual Business Inquiry figures are a measure of jobs rather than people. For Estimates for the United Kingdom using the Annual Business Inquiry are not available. 2. There are significant discontinuities which affect comparisons of the 2006 ABI/1 estimates with earlier years and additionally with respect to changes to Standard Industrial Classifications and Geographies in 2003. More information is available from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/abi/background_info.asp.  Source:  Annual Business Inquiry (ABI/1) and Annual Population Survey (APS).

Teenage Pregnancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the conception rate for persons aged  (a) under 14,  (b) between 14 and 16 and  (c) between 17 and 18 years per thousand women was in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate for persons aged (a) under 14, (b) between 14 and 16 and (c) between 17 and 18 years per thousand women was in each year since 1997. (216671)
	Available figures are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or legal termination.
	The number and rate of conceptions to girls aged (a) under 14, (b) 14 to 16 and (c) 17 to 18 years for England and Wales, 1997 to 2006 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are shown in the attached table. Figures for 2006 are provisional.
	
		
			  Conceptions by age: number and rate for England and Wales. 1997 to 2006( 1) 
			   Under 14  14-16  17-18 
			   Number  Rate  Number  Rate  Number  Rate 
			 1997 365 1.2 21,964 23.5 46,647 74.9 
			 1998 423 1.3 21,831 23.5 49,804 78.7 
			 1999 406 1.3 20,873 22.1 47,376 75.8 
			 2000 398 1.2 20,870 21.8 46,261 75.4 
			 2001 400 1.2 20,606 21.1 45,730 73.6 
			 2002 390 1.2 20,960 21.2 46,511 72.7 
			 2003 334 1.0 20,993 20.9 47,445 72.4 
			 2004 337 1.0 20,914 20.6 48,320 72.7 
			 2005 327 1.0 20,938 20.6 49,104 71.7 
			 2006(1) 290 0.9 20,553 20.2 49,149 71.5 
			 (1) Figures for 2006 are provisional.  Note: Rate per 1,000 females.

Teenage Pregnancy: Infant Mortality

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the rate of infant mortality was of children born to teenage mothers in  (a) the five most deprived areas in England and  (b) England in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the rate of infant mortality was of children born to teenage mothers in (a) the five most deprived areas in England and (b) England in each year since 1997. (216668)
	The 5 most deprived areas in England were identified as the local authority districts with highest deprivation according to the English Indices of Deprivation 2004. Hackney had the highest level of deprivation, Tower Hamlets was ranked second, Manchester third, Islington fourth and Liverpool fifth.
	The attached table shows infant mortality numbers and rates for mothers aged under 20 in these areas and England from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available). Figures for 2006 are provisional.
	
		
			  Infant deaths( 1)  to mothers aged under 20 by the five most deprived areas in England and England, 1997 to 2006 
			   Hackney( 2)  Tower Hamlets  Manchester  Islington  Liverpool  England 
			   Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3)  Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3)  Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3)  Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3)  Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3)  Infant deaths  Infant mortality rate( 3) 
			 1997 5 19.5   8 12.0   4 7.8 391 9.1 
			 1998   3 11.2 3 3.8 3 18.8 6 11.5 378 8.4 
			 1999 4 15.4   5 7.3 3 21.1 5 9.6 381 8.5 
			 2000 6 8.8   5 9.1 361 8.5 
			 2001 3 11.4   4 6.5   7 15.5 339 8.3 
			 2002 3 11.2   5 7.9   5 11.4 323 8.0 
			 2003 4 6.2   3 6.9 335 8.1 
			 2004 15 22.2   8 17.2 328 7.8 
			 2005 8 12.5   6 14.8 308 7.4 
			 2006(4) 4 6.2   4 9.4 275 6.5 
			 (1) Deaths at ages under 1 year (2) From 2002 onwards City of London LB is included in the rates for Hackney LB (3) Per 1,000 live births (4) Figures for 2006 are provisional  Note: To protect confidentiality of individuals, numbers and rates based on less than 3 events, are not shown.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeship  (a) starts and  (b) completions there were in (i) each region and (ii) each county in the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Information about the number of apprenticeships starts and completions for England in 2006/07 is given in tables placed in the House Library.
	A comprehensive breakdown by English county is not readily available. The second table is a breakdown by local authority, some of which are counties.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

David Lammy: DIUS is a new Department which leases its IT equipment and obtains IT services through a contract with Fujitsu Services.
	We investigated the feasibility of providing details of the IT contracts that DIUS' agencies have entered into but concluded that to answer would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created in June 2007, following Machinery of Government changes. The Department inherited commitments under Lyons review from its predecessors, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Trade and Industry. My Department has a target to relocate out of London and the south-east around 223 posts from its own organisation and its partner organisations by 2010.
	At the end of March 2008, 108 posts had been relocated out of London and the south-east by my Department and its partner organisations. My Department is working with our partners to continue to deliver further relocations of posts. We expect to meet the target.

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age since his Department was established.

David Lammy: As part of the Machinery of Government changes of 28 June 2007 my Department has taken on board terms and conditions of staff transferred in from the former Department for Education and Skills (DFES) and Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). In DFES there was no set retirement age for the majority of staff. In DTI staff could retire at any time between the minimum retirement age of 60 and the maximum retirement age of 65. Staff also have a statutory right to request to continue working beyond 65. Careful consideration is given to such requests, but any offer to continue working beyond that age will be at the discretion of the Department.
	A retirement age of 65 has been adopted by central Government for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) but members of the SCS can request to work beyond that age.
	Four members of staff have worked beyond age 65 since my Department was set up, three from the former DFES, and one from the former DTI.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

David Lammy: In my Department, for vacancies that are filled through inward secondments, we adhere to the Government guidelines on fair and open competition and ensure that opportunities and the selection process do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age and sexual orientation.
	Occasionally the Department makes contact with or is approached by key delivery partners in the suggestion of identifying staff who can enter DIUS on secondment for a temporary period to assist with a specific specialist piece of work. This is only in cases where we are not able to secure the services and skills of employees within the Department. In these cases specific identified staff are appointed. In all cases appointments are temporary and these do not become permanent civil servants.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council: Finance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) allocated to  (a) research and  (b) research grants in each of the last 10 years; and how many new PhD students were supported by the EPSRC in (i) the UK and (ii) Leeds University in each of those years.

Ian Pearson: The funding allocated by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to research and research grants in each of the last 10 years is shown in table 1. These data are taken from EPSRC annual reports and accounts.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  000 
			   Expenditure on research grants  Total expenditure on research 
			 1998-99 226,344 294,939 
			 1999-2000 238,479 308,603 
			 2000-01 263,202 342,865 
			 2001-02 310,530 439,420 
			 2002-03 325,488 457,068 
			 2003-04 290,847 354,485 
			 2004-05 314,933 364,019 
			 2005-06 366,137 415,716 
			 2006-07 422,577 476,506 
			 2007-08 485,963 562,259 
		
	
	The numbers of new PhD students supported by EPSRC in (i) the UK and (ii) Leeds University over the last 10 years are shown in tables 2 (a) and (b) respectively.
	
		
			  Table 2 (a)new PhD students supported 
			   Total students  Estimated new PhD students within year 
			 1998 5,366 1,789 
			 1999 5,707 1,902 
			 2000 6,165 2,055 
			 2001 6,226 2,075 
			 2002 7,102 2,367 
			 2003 5,727 1,909 
			 2004 5,594 1,865 
			 2005 5,541 1,583 
			 2006 5,847 1,671 
			 2007 6,124 1,750 
			  Notes: 1. Total students reported are based on fixed date in year. 2. Estimates based on total students divided by number of years of study. 3. From 2005 calculation based on 3.5 years not 3 years to reflect change in average length of PhD. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 (b)new PhD students at Leeds university 
			  Financial year  Total new students at Leeds 
			 2001/02 88 
			 2002/03 73 
			 2003/04 87 
			 2004/05 101 
			 2005/06 87 
			 2006/07 84 
			 2007/08 82 
			  Note:  Figures for 1999-2001 are not available.

Essex University: INTO

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he has had discussions with the University of Essex on proposals by that university to enter into a public-private partnership with the private education company INTO; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We welcome the principle of partnerships between higher education institutions and both public and private sector education providers which can lead the innovative delivery of high quality services. However, we would not expect to discuss individual projects with institutions and we have had no discussions with Essex or any other university in relation to private education companies.

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information, communication and dissemination work in the UK the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training is undertaking in 2008-09.

Bill Rammell: In 2008/09 the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) will disseminate news, analyses and reports on vocational training in Europe, principally for senior-policy makers and VET experts in the UK, through direct contact, networks, websites, publications and seminars. In the UK, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) helps disseminate Cedefop's work through a dedicated website.
	Cedefop's websites have around 15,000 UK visitors each month. Study visits are co-ordinated by Cedefop to exchange ideas and best practice. In 2008, 246 UK experts will participate and 23 visits will be held in the UK.

Graduates

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of working-age people had a degree or equivalent qualification in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The number of women aged 19-59 and men aged 19-64 in England who hold at least a level 4 qualification increased by nearly 1.9 million between quarter 4, 1997 and quarter 4, 2007. The proportion increased by 8.6 percentage points from 22.3 per cent. to 30.9 per cent.
	The supply of graduates has been rising steadily and we know employer demand for graduates remains high. Most large employers (81 per cent.LSC survey on recruitment and training among large employers, 2008) see a level 4 qualification or above as a good indicator for skills. We want to ensure that graduates have both the specialist and broader skills which employers value and that their employment rates remain high.
	Through Higher Education at Work - High Skills: High Value we are consulting on our high-level skills strategy and will consider carefully the responses to help us take forward our plans to improve graduate employability and to raise the skills and capability of those already in work.
	DIUS uses the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor, the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey (ALALFS) to provide estimates about numbers and proportions of the population with a degree or equivalent qualification for English local authorities. These local estimates are available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/t000747/index.shtml
	Series are available via this link back to 2001/02 for both the working-age population (i.e. women aged 16-59 and men aged 16-64 (16-59/64)) and the 19-59/64 population which is now the focus for DIUS reporting. Data for earlier years for the 16-59/64 population are also published by the Office for National Statistics via the NOMIS website at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	However, it should be noted that all these local estimates are currently undergoing revision following the reweighting of all underlying datasets to reflect more up-to-date population estimates from ONS. The DIUS series will be revised in August. The updating of the NOMIS series will be completed in the coming months.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of university courses for which foundation degrees are not accepted as a basis for entry.

Bill Rammell: Universities are increasingly accepting foundation degrees as a suitable entry qualification for honours degrees. Over half (54 per cent.) of the students who qualified with a foundation degree in 2004-05 immediately progressed to an honours degree in 2005-06 and other foundation degree graduates may progress to a honours degree later in their careers.
	As well as providing a progression route to honours degrees, foundation degrees are a valuable qualification in their own right and offer flexible work-focused qualifications designed with employers to meet their skill needs at that level.

Higher Education: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many residents of  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) London entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the table. Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  to undergraduate courses from Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency and London Government office region, UK higher education institutions, academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			  Academic year  Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency  London Government office region( 2) 
			 1997/98(3) 395 57,145 
			 1998/99 455 70,385 
			 1999/2000 490 73,625 
			 2000/01 540 76,980 
			 2001/02 605 81,100 
			 2002/03 625 88,130 
			 2003/04 675 89,465 
			 2004/05(4) 675 93,900 
			 2005/06 725 92,150 
			 2006/07 715 89,450 
			 (1) Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December to maintain a consistent time series across all years and are rounded to the nearest five. Figures include the Open university but exclude those on writing up, sabbatical or dormant modes of study. (2) Figures for London Government office region include double counting as entrants from Bexleyheath and Crayford will also be included in the London Government office region figures. (3) Figures for 1997/98 exclude the Open university because there are no figures available for entrants to undergraduate courses at the Open university by local authority for this year. (4) The increase in entrants between 2004/05 and 2005/06 may be greater than in reality as a consequence of a problem identified with data submitted by the Open university (OU) in the 2004/05 academic year.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Labour Market

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had on the provision of a comprehensive labour market information service; what consideration he has given to involving the private sector in developing the service; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Leitch Review of Skills identified the need to improve the quality of labour market information (LMI). The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) which was launched in April 2008, has a role in monitoring the whole employment and skills system and is well-placed to take this work forward. The UK Commission will be producing a new enhanced standard and framework for sectoral LMI, and a range of products to support the use of labour market information.
	In addition, the UK Commission will seek to improve the quality of LMI, which is collected and analysed by partners, to ensure its suitability, rigour, consistency and reliability across the UK. Employers are actively engaged in the work of the Sector Skills Councils in producing their sector-specific labour market information.

Languages: Adult Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on extending foreign language capability as part of lifelong learning courses.

Bill Rammell: The Government recognise the importance of modern foreign language skills to employers to improve their competitiveness in the global economy. The approach taken by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the light of the decline in adult participation rates in these subjects recognises the key role providers have in reversing this trend by stimulating demand and revitalising the curriculum to equip more adults and young people with modern language skills. To this end each local area is expected to have a core adult learning offer that reflects and responds to the spectrum of individual adult and employer needs.
	In addition, the LSC also funds a range of learning opportunities for individual adults within its safeguarded budget for personal and community development (lifelong) learning. Courses to develop foreign language capability are also funded through this budget.
	We will continue to give priority to provision for groups of individuals both in the workplace and in the community who are in greatest need of learning.
	As part of the national teaching and learning change programme the Quality Improvement Agency on behalf of the Department has developed a suite of foreign language teaching resources which support teachers, tutors, trainers and managers to raise standards of practice and deliver learner success across the foreign language FE curriculum.
	On the 16 June 2008 the latest in the suite of foreign language teaching materials, produced for the QIA by Cliffhanger Studios, won a Royal Television Society Award for Innovation in Education, beating off tough competition from the BBC.

National Institute for Medical Research

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions have been held with Barnet Council over the future use of the National Institute for Medical Research site at Mill Hill after the Institute's operations are relocated to the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation;
	(2)  what the purchase price was of the Brill Place site for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation; how this was funded; and by whom;
	(3)  what his latest estimate is of  (a) the cost of and  (b) timescale for (i) construction of and (ii) relocation of each of the constituent organisations to the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation; how the cost will be funded; and by whom;
	(4)  what the purchase price was of the Temperance Hospital site, previously planned to be the location for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation's relocated National Institute for Medical Research; when this purchase was completed; how and by whom it was funded; how much has been spent on  (a) (i) security and (ii) maintenance at the site so far,  (b) preparatory studies and design work for the now aborted move and  (c) professional fees in respect of the purchase of the site; what the reasons were for the decision that the site was not suitable; what is now anticipated to be the future use of the site; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what discussions have been held with Camden Council over planning matters arising from the proposed UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI); when it is anticipated a planning application will be submitted; what discussions have been held with the local community in the vicinity of Brill Place over the proposed UKCMRI; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what level of containment laboratories will be provided at the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) scientific,  (b) other professional and  (c) other staff who are likely to move from the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill to the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what discussions have been held with the  (a) police,  (b) security services and  (c) Health and Safety Executive over (i) safety and (ii) security issues, including biosecurity, at the proposed UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation site; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: These are matters for the Medical Research Council (MRC) and its partners. I will ask the chief executive of the council to write to my hon. Friend.

Overseas Students: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what steps he has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to promote studying at British universities in Israel; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much was spent by his Department promoting British universities in Israel in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: The Government are seeking through the second phase of the Prime Minister's initiative for international education (PMI2), to maintain and enhance the UK's position as a leading study destination. Marketing UK education, including but not exclusively higher education, is a core component of the PMI2 and this function is exercised by the British Council on the Department's behalf. The British Council is involved in a range of activities to support higher education links between the UK and Israel with around 450,000 spent in 2007-08 on these activities.

Students: Finance

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students resident in the London Borough of Bexley made applications to the Access to Learning Fund in the last period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: 360 students with a home address in the London borough of Bexley made applications to their higher education institutions for assistance from the Access to Learning Fund in 2006-07.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of individuals from whom the Student Loans Company has continued to collect payments although the debt had been cleared in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company's (SLC) best estimate of the number of borrowers it has continued to collect repayments from although their loan has been paid off for each year since 2001 is shown in the following table. The estimated 20,900 borrowers with income contingent repayment (ICR) loans who made overpayments in 2006-07 represented just 1.9 per cent. of the total number of borrowers who were eligible to make repayments had their earning passed the 15,000 earnings threshold. Over-repayments from borrowers with mortgage style loans are not included because any over-repayments once their loan has been cleared will only arise where the borrower has failed to cancel repayment arrangements with their bank.
	There are a variety of circumstances why borrowers overpay but this mainly occurs when loans come to the end of repayment. The number of over-repayments has increased over the period covered by the answer as the number of borrowers with ICR loans entering into repayment has grown. ICR loans were introduced in 1998, so in the early years covered by the answer, relatively few borrowers were making repayments. For student loan borrowers with ICR loans, repayments are predominately made through the tax system. Due to the time lag in the SLC receiving information from HM Revenue and Customs, it is possible for borrowers to overpay before the SLC becomes aware that their repayments should stop.
	Where the pattern of payments shows that repayment will be completed during the coming year, the SLC invites borrowers to get in touch to discuss when repayments should stop. Borrowers are then able to make manual repayments. If they do not respond promptly to the SLC, or ignore the invitation, they will probably overpay.
	The SLC has recently introduced a new website facility specifically for repaying customers. This will give borrowers the ability to view their most current statement and it will also give them the chance to calculate their balance based on what they can see in their payslips.
	The SLC is working on further improving the loan end process and has been asked to put in place arrangements which will reduce the number of borrowers over-repaying at the end of repayment. Those arrangements, which are likely to be voluntary, are expected to be in place towards the end of next year.
	Any borrower who has repaid should contact the SLC immediately to obtain a full refund with interest. All refunds include interest at the same (retail price index) rate that was charged on the loan.
	
		
			  Estimated number of borrowers with income contingent repayment student loans who have continued to make repayments although their debt has been cleared( 1) 
			  Financial year  Total estimated number of borrowers who SLC has continued to collect from although their loan has been paid off  Total number of borrowers who have passed their SRDD( 2)  Borrowers who have overpaid as a percentage of those in repayment 
			 2001-02 600 69,900 0.9 
			 2002-03 3,300 231,300 1.4 
			 2003-04 9,900 446,800 2.2 
			 2004-05 15,600 669,100 2.3 
			 2005-06 21,800 885,700 2.5 
			 2006-07 20,900 1,118,700 1.9 
			 (1) Includes all borrowers who have passed their statutory repayment due date (SRDD) irrespective of their current status. English domiciled customers only. Borrowers may be counted in more than one year if they have received refunds in more than one year. The number of over-repayments has increased over the period as the number of borrowers in repayment have increased. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred. (2) Number of borrowers passed SRDD in years 2001-02 to 2004-05 includes borrowers who have fully repaid their loans.  Source: Student Loans Company.

Students: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students received monies from Learning and Skills Council funding in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Details of student numbers receiving funding from the Learning and Skills Council at the level requested is not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC as they determine these matters after discussions with local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Lady with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Surveying: Land

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of qualified land surveyors; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: In line with my answer to questions 214450 and 214487 on this subject, tabled by the hon. Gentleman last month, I have asked the Chief Executive of Construction Skills to write to him directly about this matter.

Train to Gain Programme: Expenditure

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Train to Gain programme cost in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by main budget heading.

David Lammy: Since it was rolled out nationally from April 2006, Train to Gain has grown quickly. It has now engaged 92,210 employers, supported 454,920 employees to begin learning programmes, and delivered 186,720 full level 2 and over 23,000 Skills for Life achievements.
	The latest available full year figures for Train to Gain spend are contained in the LSC's published accounts for 2006-2007; a summary is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Train to Gain spend 2006-07 
			  000 
			   2006-07 
			 Employer Training Pilots 20,785 
			 Train to Gain 172,609 
			 Adult Apprenticeships (Level 3 Pilots) 576 
			 Higher Skills for Women 90 
			 Total 194,060 
		
	
	The LSC's accounts for 2007-08 will be published at the end of July 2008.

Vocational Education: Grants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on the making of grants under the EU Lifelong Learning Programme for projects to develop the credit system for vocational education and training; and how many such projects are being funded in England.

David Lammy: The European Commission issued a call for proposals (Official Journal of the European Union 2008/C 132/08) for projects to develop the credit system for vocational education and training. The closing date for applications to the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture is 13 August 2008. No projects will be selected for funding until after that date.

Vocational Training: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adults post-16 were in skills training in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency supported by Government schemes or allowances in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The following table shows the total number of LSC-funded learners (split by age) resident in  (a) Leeds metropolitan district and  (b) Leeds West constituency by academic year from 2002-03 to 2006-07. Data for other years are not available.
	
		
			   Aged 16-18  Aged 19+  Total 
			   Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency  Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency  Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency 
			 2002-03 18,110 1,970 48,600 5,870 66,760 7,850 
			 2003-04 18,670 1,980 51,770 6,580 70,460 8,550 
			 2004-05 19,150 2,070 49,900 6,350 69,070 8,420 
			 2005-06 19,660 2,000 44,200 6,360 64,060 8,390 
			 2006-07 19,960 2,100 35,720 6,210 56,090 8,340 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10; totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. The figures represent total in-learning volumes in a given year (that is to say the total number of individuals who took part in learning at some point during the academic year) and cover Further Education, Work Based Learning, School Sixth Forms (all years) and Train to Gain (from 2005-06). 3. Consistent information on learner numbers in FE is not available prior to 2002-03.  Source: Individualised Learner Record and School Census

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Class Sizes

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size in each secondary academy school is.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Academies : classes as taught by one teacher( 1) , January 2008 
			 Classes taught by one teacher 
			  URN  Establishment name  Local authority area  Number of pupils  Number of classes  Average class size 
			 105135 St Paul's Academy Greenwich 680 28 24.3 
			 134693 Mossbourne Community Academy Hackney 773 35 22.1 
			 131062 The Petchey Academy Hackney 354 13 27.2 
			 131609 The Bridge Academy Hackney Hackney 186 8 23.3 
			 131752 Burlington Danes Academy Hammersmith and Fulham 781 38 20.6 
			 134314 St. Mary Magdalene Academy Islington 392 13 30.2 
			 134815 Lambeth Academy Lambeth 727 38 19.1 
			 135073 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College Lewisham 1,302 65 20.0 
			 135070 Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy Lewisham 830 37 22.4 
			 135264 St. Matthew Academy Lewisham 752 34 22.1 
			 134222 City of London Academy (Southward) Southwark 946 47 20.1 
			 134225 Harris Academy at Peckham Southwark 1,158 64 18.1 
			 131747 Harris Academy Bermondsey Southwark 865 37 23.4 
			 135315 Walworth Academy Southwark 925 44 21.0 
			 135375 St. Michael and All Angels C of E Academy Southwark 754 44 17.1 
			 135401 Bacon's College Southwark 1,031 56 18.4 
			 135316 Ashcroft Technology Academy Wandsworth 997 50 19.9 
			 130912 Paddington Academy Westminster 1,010 47 21.5 
			 131262 Westminster Academy Westminster 794 48 16.5 
			 135242 King Solomon Academy Westminster 34 2 17.0 
			 134798 London Academy Barnet 1,140 59 19.3 
			 133769 The Business Academy Bexley Bexley 1,496 64 23.4 
			 134226 Capital City Academy Brent 1,082 50 21.6 
			 135249 Harris Academy South Norwood Croydon 721 39 18.5 
			 135311 Harris City Academy Crystal Palace Croydon 942 44 21.4 
			 134369 West London Academy Ealing 1,250 62 20.2 
			 134311 Oasis Academy Enfield Enfield 179 7 25.6 
			 133386 Greig City Academy Haringey 828 50 16.6 
			 134797 Stockley Academy Hillingdon 795 40 19.9 
			 135004 The Harefield Academy Hillingdon 581 28 20.8 
			 131897 Harris Academy Merton Merton 660 37 17.8 
			 134003 St. Marks Church of England Academy Merton 800 38 21.1 
			 132727 Walthamstow Academy Waltham Forest 718 36 19.9 
			 134993 Sandwell Academy Sandwell 703 36 19.5 
			 135170 Shireland Collegiate Academy Sandwell 964 52 18.5 
			 135234 George Salter Collegiate Academy Sandwell 886 48 18.5 
			 129342 Grace Academy Solihull 1,015 59 17.2 
			 133697 Walsall Academy Walsall 926 46 20.1 
			 101857 The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi Liverpool 769 34 22.6 
			 131065 North Liverpool Academy Liverpool 990 65 15.2 
			 135174 Belvedere Academy Liverpool 487 32 15.2 
			 134224 Manchester Academy Manchester 831 37 22.5 
			 135296 William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester 691 39 17.7 
			 135313 St. Anne's Academy Rochdale 557 27 20.6 
			 135071 Salford City Academy Salford 594 34 17.5 
			 135262 Stockport Academy Stockport 449 23 19.5 
			 131749 The Barnsley Academy Barnsley 410 24 17.1 
			 135007 Trinity Academy Doncaster 1,107 57 19.4 
			 131895 Sheffield Park Academy Sheffield 1,055 54 19.5 
			 131896 Sheffield Springs Academy Sheffield 952 46 20.7 
			 130909 Dixons City Academy Bradford 961 53 18.1 
			 135367 Bradford Academy Bradford 875 39 22.4 
			 131898 David Young Community Academy Leeds 878 54 16.3 
			 134221 The City Academy Bristol Bristol City of 1,011 63 16.0 
			 135300 Bristol Brunel Academy Bristol City of 827 39 21.2 
			 135295 John Cabot Academy South Gloucestershire 956 55 17.4 
			 133768 Unity City Academy Middlesbrough 917 46 19.9 
			 134223 The King's Academy Middlesbrough 1,051 53 19.8 
			 130908 Macmillan Academy Middlesbrough 1,393 82 17.0 
			 135176 Oasis Academy Immingham North East Lincolnshire 678 31 21.9 
			 135209 Oasis Academy Wintringham North East Lincolnshire 650 24 27.1 
			 135294 Havelock Academy North East Lincolnshire 704 32 22.0 
			 135337 Barnfield West Academy Luton Luton 750 34 22.1 
			 135338 Barnfield South Academy Luton Luton 721 32 22.5 
			 135120 Landau Forte College Derby 993 51 19.5 
			 135314 Eastbourne Church of England Academy Darlington 561 28 20.0 
			 128364 The Samworth Enterprise Academy Leicester 500 19 26.3 
			 135364 Swindon Academy Swindon 1,118 45 24.8 
			 130247 John Madejski Academy Reading 577 31 18.6 
			 135263 Thomas Deacon Academy Peterborough 1,879 92 20.4 
			 133114 The Gateway Academy Thurrock 778 36 21.6 
			 128340 The Marlowe Academy Kent 514 33 15.6 
			 135195 Folkestone Academy Kent 950 47 20.2 
			 135290 Marsh Academy Kent 818 45 18.2 
			 135297 Leigh Technology Academy Kent 1,203 67 18.0 
			 135305 Spires Academy Kent 259 14 18.5 
			 135372 New Line Learning Academy Kent 894 44 20.3 
			 135371 Cornwallis Academy Kent 1,419 67 21.2 
			 134253 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham Nottingham 1,300 73 17.8 
			 135149 Madeley Academy Telford and Wrekin 708 32 22.1 
			 134814 Northampton Academy Northamptonshire 1,251 60 20.9 
			 135365 North Oxfordshire Academy Oxfordshire 657 33 19.9 
			   
			  All academies  68,620 3,470 19.8 
			   
			  All state funded secondary schools(2)  3,082,260 147,630 20.9 
			 (1) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the Census in January. Includes sixth form classes where applicable. (2) Includes local authority maintained secondary schools, CTCs and academies.  Note: National totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities are participating in the Building Schools for the Future programme; and how many schools in each participating authority are scheduled for  (a) refurbishment and  (b) replacement.

Jim Knight: The following table identifies the local authorities participating in the Building Schools for the Future programme whose proposals for refurbishing and replacing schools have been agreed.
	
		
			   Number of schools scheduled for 
			  Local authority  refurbishment  replacement 
			 Bradford(1) 0 10 
			 Barnsley 0 10 
			 Birmingham(1) 7 12 
			 Blackburn 5 3 
			 Bristol(1) 0 5 
			 Cambridgeshire(1) 5 1 
			 Derbyshire(1) 4 3 
			 Durham(1) 6 3 
			 Gateshead(1) 2 0 
			 Greenwich(1) 2 3 
			 Hackney 6 4 
			 Haringey 11 2 
			 Islington 6 6 
			 Kent(1) 7 5 
			 Knowsley 0 9 
			 Lambeth(1) 1 4 
			 Lancashire(1) 3 8 
			 Leeds(1) 10 4 
			 Leicester 12 6 
			 Lewisham 9 7 
			 Liverpool(1) 5 3 
			 Luton(1) 3 5 
			 Manchester(1) 10 6 
			 Middlesbrough 5 3 
			 Newcastle 5 5 
			 Newham(1) 10 5 
			 North Lincolnshire 5 3 
			 Nottingham(1) 5 6 
			 Rochdale 9 5 
			 Salford 1 7 
			 Sandwell(1) 5 3 
			 Sheffield(1) 7 3 
			 Solihull 1 3 
			 Southwark(1) 4 9 
			 South Tyneside 5 7 
			 Sunderland 7 0 
			 Tameside 7 7 
			 Tower Hamlets(1) 6 0 
			 Waltham Forest(1) 5 2 
			 Westminster 8 2 
			 (1) These local authorities have further projects in later waves of the programme; detailed school plans for these later projects have yet to be confirmed. 
		
	
	The following local authorities are participating in the BSF programme, but their plans for replacing or refurbishing the school estate are yet to be confirmed:
	Barking and Dagenham, Bedford, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Poole, Camden, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Ealing, Enfield, Essex, Halton, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hartlepool, Hertfordshire, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Kirklees, North East Lincolnshire, North Tyneside, Nottinghamshire, Oldham, Portsmouth, Redcar and Cleveland, Rotherham, Somerset, Southampton, Staffordshire, St Helens, Stockton-on-Tees, Suffolk, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Wandsworth, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been committed to the Building Schools for the Future programme; and how much in private finance initiative credit has been committed.

Jim Knight: The amount of capital resources allocated to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme between 2005-06 and 2010-11 is 7.84 billion of conventional funding, and 7.454 billion of PFI credits. From 2008-09, the BSF budget includes academies.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance he has issued on the consultations to take place before a local authority bids for Building Schools for the Future funds.

Jim Knight: The Strategy for Change guidance sets out the requirement that authorities are able to demonstrate that they have consulted extensively on their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) proposals. We have also issued additional guidance for local authorities on school competitions and where the consultation processes align with the BSF timescales.

Child Development Grant

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the overall cost of implementing the Child Development Grant of 200 nationwide; and when he expects the Child Development Grant to be available to all parents.

Kevin Brennan: The Child Development Grants Pilot will run in 10 local authorities and will test how financial support can be used to encourage disadvantaged families to utilise the childcare and other services offered by their local children's centres. The Child Development Grant pilot is one of a number of child poverty pilots announced at Budget 2008 as part of the wider child poverty strategy. A comprehensive evaluation will be undertaken to determine the likely impact and cost-effectiveness of all the child poverty pilots before a decision is made about whether any of the initiatives are rolled out nationally. Any decisions on future roll-out of Child Development Grants and other pilots will be subject to future spending reviews.

Children in Care

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many looked-after children in each ethnic category there are in England; how many people or couples in each ethnic category in England have been assessed as suitable adoptive parents and are yet to adopt; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Information on how many people or couples in each ethnic category in England have been assessed as suitable adoptive parents and are yet to adopt is not collected centrally.
	Information on the number of looked-after children in each ethnic category in England is shown in the following table. The information is taken from Table A1 of the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled 'Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007'. The SFR is located at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March by ethnic origin, 2003-07(  1, 2, 3) , England 
			Number  Percentage 
			2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5)  2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5) 
			  All children looked after at 31 March( 1, 2) 61,200 61,200 61,000 60,300 60,000 100 100 100 100 100 
			 
			  Ethnic origin   
			  White   
			  White British 47,300 46,300 45,900 45,000 44,700 77 76 75 75 74 
			  White Irish 580 520 500 440 400 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Any other White background 1,800 1,900 1,800 1,600 1,500 3 3 3 3 3 
			  Mixed   
			  White and Black Caribbean 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 3 3 3 3 3 
			  White and Black African 400 410 440 430 440 1 1 1 1 1 
			  White and Asian 750 720 720 750 770 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Any other mixed background 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 3 3 3 3 3 
			  Asian or Asian British   
			  Indian 300 300 280 300 290 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Pakistani 510 520 580 610 660 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Bangladeshi 200 230 270 280 280 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Any other Asian background 320 460 650 880 1,000 1 1 1 1 2 
			  Black or Black British   
			  Caribbean 1,600 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,600 3 3 3 3 3 
			  African 1,800 2,300 2,400 2,400 2,300 3 4 4 4 4 
			  Any other Black background 870 880 900 900 880 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Other ethnic groups   
			  Chinese 80 120 120 120 130 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Any other ethnic group 750 840 900 1,000 1,200 1 1 1 2 2 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Figures are derived from the SSDA903 one third sample survey. (5) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which, since 2003-04 has covered all children looked after.

Children in Care: Education

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire achieved results equivalent to the average results achieved in  (a) England and  (b) Staffordshire in each key stage examination in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: Information collected on the attainment of looked-after children are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Key Stage 1 performance of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months, 12 months ending 30 September 2003 to 2007, England and Staffordshire local authority 
			   England  Staffordshire 
			   Percentage achieving at least level 2 in( 1) :  Percentage achieving at least level 2 in( 1) : 
			   Reading  Writing  Mathematics  Reading  Writing  Mathematics 
			   Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2) 
			 2003 50.3 84 48.5 81 61.0 90 (3) 87 39 83 61 92 
			 2004 54.4 85 48.3 82 63.5 90 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 
			 2005 57.2 85 51.8 82 64.4 91 63 88 63 86 63 92 
			 2006 57.3 84 51.6 81 64.6 90 59 88 52 85 67 92 
			 2007 55.1 84 50.7 80 63.6 90 59 88 53 85 59 92 
			 (1) Target level or age group. (2) Source: DCSF Statistical First Release National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 1 in England. (3) Wherever the numerator is five or less or the denominator is 10 or less of the underlying numbers from which a percentage has been calculated, the percentage has been suppressed. (4) Not available. KS1 results for looked-after children has been omitted for this year's publication. This is due to the KS1 trial that took place. A direct comparison could not be made at local authority level between those LAs which took part in the trial and which provided teacher assessments figures, with the LAs that did not take part in the trial and that provided the usual task/test results.  Source: OC2 Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Key Stage 2  performance of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months, 12 months ending 30 September 2003 to 2007, England and Staffordshire local authority 
			   England  Staffordshire 
			   Percentage achieving at least level  4  in( 1) :  Percentage achieving at least level  4  in( 1) : 
			   English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science 
			   Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2) 
			 2003 37.1 75 34.8 73 52.9 87 52 75 48 73 61 88 
			 2004 39.9 77 37.2 74 53.0 86 30 79 43 75 52 88 
			 2005 42.1 79 37.6 75 53.4 86 33 79 23 77 40 88 
			 2006 42.8 79 40.9 76 57.2 87 46 80 46 77 63 88 
			 2007 45.9 80 43.4 77 58.8 88 35 81 41 79 50 90 
			 (1) Target level or age group. (2) Source: DCSF Statistical First Release National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England.  Source: OC2 Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Key Stage  3  performance of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months, 12 months ending 30 September 2003 to 2007, England and Staffordshire local authority 
			   England  Staffordshire 
			   Percentage achieving at least level  5  in( 1) :  Percentage achieving at least level  5  in( 1) : 
			   English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science 
			   Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2) 
			 2003 22.3 69 23.3 71 23.2 68 20 71 28 73 20 72 
			 2004 22.5 71 25.8 73 20.8 66 13 73 (3) 75 (3) 70 
			 2005 26.7 74 28.3 74 25.9 70 14 76 26 77 29 73 
			 2006 28.1 72 32.5 77 29.4 72 38 75 46 80 41 75 
			 2007 29.2 74 30.7 76 29.2 73 27 76 31 78 38 75 
			 (1) Target level or age group. (2) Source: DCSF Statistical First Release National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 3 in England. (3) Wherever the numerator is five or less or the denominator is 10 or less of the underlying numbers from which a percentage has been calculated, the percentage has been suppressed.  Source: OC2 Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  GCSE performance or equivalents of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months in year 11, 12 months ending 30 September 2003 to 2007, England and Staffordshire local authority 
			   England  Staffordshire 
			   Percentage obtaining at least( 1) :  Percentage obtaining at least( 1) : 
			   One GCSE at grade A*-G or a GNVQ  Five A*-G GCSE grades (or equivalent)  Five A*-C GCSE grades (or equivalent)  One GCSE at grade A*-G or a GNVQ  Five A*-G GCSE grades (or equivalent)  Five A*-C GCSE grades (or equivalent) 
			   Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2)  Looked after  All children( 2) 
			 2003 53 95 37 89 9 51 57 95 41 91 18 52 
			 2004 56 96 39 89 9 54 48 97 41 92 (3) 51 
			 2005 60 97 41 97 11 57 55 97 30 91 (3) 54 
			 2006 63 98 41 98 12 59 49 98 36 92 (3) 57 
			 2007 64 99 43 99 13 62 78 98 61 93 17 60 
			 (1) Expressed as a percentage of all looked-after children in year 11. (2) Source: DCSF Statistical First Release GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07 (Revised). Figures for 2003 and 2004 are based on pupils aged 15. Figures for 2004 to 2007 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. (3) Wherever the numerator is five or less or the denominator is 10 or less of the underlying numbers from which a percentage has been calculated, the percentage has been suppressed.  Source: OC2 Survey. 
		
	
	At a National level, the DCSF is investigating the quality of matching data on looked-after children to the National Pupil Database (NPD), which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people.
	We are determined to do more to improve the education of looked-after children. Raising their attainment is key to improving their life chances and ensuring a successful transition to adulthood. We have set out our intentions in the White Paper Care Matters: Time for Change and its implementation plan Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care published by the Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS).

Children in Care: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire were entered for  (a) no,  (b) one,  (c) two,  (d) three,  (e) four and  (f) five GCSEs in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire achieved five or more GCSEs at grade C or above in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: Data collected since 2000 and published in Outcome Indicators for Looked After Children Twelve months to 30 September, show the GCSE performance or equivalents of children who were looked after for at least 12 months. The available information for Staffordshire local authority is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  GCSE performance or equivalents of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months in Year 11:  12  months ending 30 September 2003 - 07Staffordshire local authority 
			Percentge( 2) 
			   Number looked after in year 11 old enough to sit GCSE or GNVQ exams( 1)  Who sat at least one GCSE or GNVQ  1 GCSE at grade A* - G or a GNVQ  5 A* - G GCSE grades (or equivalent)  5 A* - C GCSE grades (or equivalent) 
			 2003 45 100 57 41 18 
			 2004 45 48 48 41 (3) 
			 2005 45 55 55 30 (3) 
			 2006 60 49 49 36 (3) 
			 2007 45 78 78 61 17 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. (2) Expressed as a percentage of all looked after children in year 11. (3) Wherever the numerator is five or less or the denominator is 10 or less of the underlying numbers from which a percentage has been calculated, the percentage has been suppressed.  Source: OC2 Survey 
		
	
	We do not collect information about the numbers of looked-after children according to how many GCSEs they were entered for. However, these data are available at a local level enabling local authorities to set targets for the attainment of looked-after children at key stage four. These targets are negotiated with the National Strategies and Government Offices and form a statutory part of a local authority's local area agreement.
	At a National level the DCSF is investigating the quality of matching data on looked-after children to the national pupil database (NPD), which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people.
	We are determined to do more and improving the education of looked-after children is a top priority. It is key to improving their life chances and a successful transition to adulthood. We have set out our intentions in Care Matters: Time for Change and the implementation plan Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care published by the Government with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services.

Children: HIV Infection

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue guidance to  (a) schools and  (b) local authorities on managing the special needs of HIV positive children in (i) education and (ii) local authority care.

Kevin Brennan: We have no plans to issue specific guidance to schools and local authorities on managing the special needs of HIV positive children in education and local authority care.
	In 2005, this Department, jointly with the Department of Health, published guidance for schools and local authorities entitled Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings. Although not specific to managing the needs of HIV positive children, the guide recommends that while children with medical needs can attend schools regularly and take part in normal activities, school staff may need to take extra care to ensure that those children and others are not put at risk.
	It is for local authorities, schools and governing bodies to work out their own policies on supporting children with medical needs, in the light of statutory responsibilities and their own local requirements.

Children: Sports

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of levels of sporting participation by children in inner London; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The annual school sport survey found that in 2006-07, 85 per cent. of five-16 year olds in inner London boroughs were participating in at least two hours high quality PE and school sport a week, up from 64 per cent. in 2004-05.
	New opportunities for children and young people to participate in PE and sport are being created through the PE and Sport Strategy. The strategy aims to offer young people, aged five to 16 years, five hours of sport a week and three hours for young people aged 16-19 years.

Children's Centres: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children's centres there are in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire.

Beverley Hughes: There are currently four designated Sure Start children's centres in Tamworth offering services to approximately 4,000 children under five and their families. There are a total of 38 children's centres in Staffordshire, offering services to approximately 35,000 children.
	Local authorities are currently planning the final phase of the roll-out of children's centres so that by 2010 there will be a children's centre for every community. Staffordshire has been given an indicative number of a further 15 centres required to reach all remaining under fives in the county. This figure is subject to confirmation following planning discussions between the focal authority and the Department's delivery partner, Together for Children.

Children's Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of expenditure from the Children's Fund has been incurred by community and voluntary groups in  (a) the London Borough of Enfield,  (b) Greater London and  (c) England and Wales in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Children's Fund allocations for Enfield, Greater London and England for each year since its inception are as follows:
	
		
			  Children's Fund allocations 
			   
			   Enfield  All London boroughs  England 
			 2001-02  10,850,000 67,600,000 
			 2002-03 63,219 18,100,000 118,917,000 
			 2003-04 661,301 31,601,401 202,094,736 
			 2004-05 874,843 26,848,933 160,026,096 
			 2005-06 711,515 24,163,830 145,530,848 
			 2006-07 711,515 22,633,981 134,164,710 
			 2007-08 711,515 22,243,023 131,804,428 
		
	
	Expenditure information for these years (which in some cases varies significantly) is not readily available. Administration costs of the Children's Fund Partnerships made up an average of approximately 12 per cent. of the funding allocation in each year with the remaining balance being used mainly to fund community and voluntary groups.

Cowes High School

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to make a funding allocation through the Building Schools for the Future programme for the rebuilding of Cowes High School on the Isle of Wight; and to which organisation such an allocation will be made.

Jim Knight: A funding allocation for the rebuilding of Cowes High School was made to Isle of Wright council, through the Building Schools for the Future One-School Pathfinder programme, in January 2007. The full allocation is 32 million and the first payment was made through the standards fund in May 2007.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Kevin Brennan: The purchase value of the computer systems being used by the Department is 14,157,360 and their value at 31 March 2008 was 7,947,765.
	The Department's fixed asset accounting policy is consistent with the FReM.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what IT contracts his Departments has entered into in the last two years.

Kevin Brennan: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Children, Schools and Families. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Kevin Brennan: Figures are detailed in the following tables for grades 6 and below. The figures do not reflect the senior civil service, where it is not possible to calculate an hourly rate, given their contracts of employment set an expected minimum number of hours and the requirement to work additional hours for the performance of their duties.
	Temporary refers to staff employed by the Department on short term contracts and therefore excludes agency workers who are not employees of the Department.
	
		
			  National 
			   
			  Grade  Permanent hourly rate  Temporary hourly rate 
			 EA AA 6.80  
			 EA AO 7.70  
			 EO 9.80 8.90 
			 Grade 6 25.40  
			 Grade 7 20.70  
			 HEO 12.20  
			 SEO 15.10  
		
	
	
		
			  London 
			   
			  Grade  Permanent hourly rate  Temporary hourly rate 
			 EA AA 8.40  
			 EA AO 9.30 8.70 
			 EO 11.30 10.50 
			 Grade 6 28.10  
			 Grade 7 23.00  
			 HEO 23.00  
			 SEO 16.70  
			 '' = No temporary staff in specialist grades therefore these are not reflected in the information provided.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Kevin Brennan: The purchase of newspaper, magazines and other publications is recorded under the general heading of books and newspapers. DCSF is unable to separately identify subscriptions as such expenditure is recorded under this general heading.
	Details of expenditure on books, newspapers and magazines incurred by the Department in each of the last 24 months and recorded in the Departments' integrated financial information system are as follows;
	
		
			
			 July 2006 11,249.72 
			 August 2006 13,806.66 
			 September 2006 9,054.94 
			 October 2006 19,464.11 
			 November 2006 9,057.42 
			 December 2006 12,771.95 
			 January 2007 4,869.95 
			 February 2007 14,378.02 
			 March 2007 12,272.65 
			 April 2007 8,132.53 
			 May 2007 13,214.94 
			 June 2007 7,860.48 
			 July 2007 15,304.11 
			 August 2007 8,021.07 
			 September 2007 15,902.31 
			 October 2007 20,640.38 
			 November 2007 5,173.04 
			 December 2007 5,990.21 
			 January 2008 4,435.82 
			 February 2008 9,234.69 
			 March 2008 14,104.81 
			 April 2008 12,360.97 
			 May 2008 3,725.66 
			 June 2008 4,777.65 
		
	
	DCSF was established under Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. The response also covers those areas of responsibility held by its predecessor the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Departmental Research

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many educational researchers were employed by  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department currently employs 30 social researchers. These researchers work on a range of issues including educational research but also including other research on young people, children and families. Historical data are only available for the years 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-3 and 2006-07 as follows:
	
		
			Number 
			 2000-01 Department for Education and Employment 83 
			 2001-02 Department for Education and Skills 50 
			 2002-03 Department for Education and Skills 60 
			 2006-07 Department for Education and Skills 37 
		
	
	Since 2003, QCA has employed the following number of educational researchers in each year:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 15 
			 2004 19 
			 2005 18 
			 2006 18 
			 2007 14 
			 2008 15 
		
	
	Information for 2001 and 2002 is not available.

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people in his Department and its predecessor worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: My Department has no set retirement age for the majority of staff. A retirement age of 65 has been adopted by central Government for the senior civil service (SCS) but members of the SCS can request to work beyond that age. The following table shows the number of people in my Department who have worked beyond 65 in the past five years:
	
		
			   Total staff 
			 2008 7 
			 2007 4 
			 2006 2 
			 2005 2 
			 2004 1

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Since 1999, the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007/08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997 to 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Dyscalculia

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of dyscalculia on school examination results; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have not made a specific assessment of the effects of dyscalculia on school examination results. However, we are aware that in 2005 the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency published a review of research in relation to dyscalculia, which notes that tests and definitions of dyscalculia vary.
	The Department's Statistical First Release National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2006/07 was published on 27 November 2007. This indicates that whereas 68.7 per cent. of children who did not have identified special educational needs (SEN) obtained five A*-C grades at GCSE, only 23.1 per cent. of children on the school-based stages of SEN support reached that level of attainmentand only around 9.2 per cent. of those with statements. We intend to publish attainment figures by type of need as an additional table to this Statistical First Release during the week commencing 7 July 2008.
	In 2006, 22 per cent. of children at School Action Plus who have a specific learning difficulty as their primary type of need (dyscalculia, dyslexia or dyspraxia) achieved the equivalent of five A*-C grades at GCSE, as did 14 per cent. of children who had a statement for these needs. This compared to 65.9 per cent. of children who did not have identified SEN.
	In the Children's Plan, which we published in December last year, we recognised that more needs to be done to improve outcomes and provision for children with SEN. In a written statement on 6 May 2008, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families announced that Sir Jim Rose had been asked, in the light of evidence, to make recommendations on the identification and teaching of children with dyslexia.
	In developing his recommendations, Sir Jim Rose will be considering evidence of practice in improving outcomes for children with dyslexia, including those who are experiencing difficulties associated with dyscalculia. He has agreed to prepare a report containing his recommendations early in 2009.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many staff defrauded the education maintenance allowance system in each year since it was launched; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the losses to his Department from fraudulent claims for education maintenance allowance system in each year since it was launched; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Responsibility for operating the education maintenance allowance, and maintaining and implementing a strategy for managing the risk of fraud, was transferred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 1 April 2005. The LSC have provided a response to these questions as follows:
	Since the national roll out of EMA in England in September 2004, there have been no identified cases of fraud by staff at the Assessment and Payment Body (APB), Learning Providers, or the Learning and Skills Council.
	The total losses to date arising from fraudulent claims that have been identified since national roll out amount to 58,635. This equates to less than 0.0001 per cent. of the total EMA budget since roll out.
	This answer only refers to the EMA scheme in England the EMA schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Education: Assessments

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils at schools in Greater London achieved level 5 or above in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science at (i) key stage 2 and (ii) key stage 3 in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested for Greater London is shown in the following tables alongside that for England as a whole.
	
		
			  Key  s tage 2 and  k ey  s tage 3 results for Greater London since 1997 
			   Key  s tage 2  Key  s tage 3 
			   Percentage of pupils achieving  l evel 4 or above  Percentage of pupils achieving  l evel 5 or above( 1, 2)  Percentage achieving of pupils  l evel 5 or above 
			   English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science 
			 1997 60 59 65 (4) (4) (4) 54 53 53 
			 1998 64 56 66 (4) (4) (4) 62 52 49 
			 1999 68 67 75 (4) (4) (4) 60 56 48 
			 2000 73 70 83 27 24 35 61 59 51 
			 2001 75 70 86 28 25 33 62 61 58 
			 2002 74 73 85 27 27 36 64 63 61 
			 2003 76 72 85 28 28 38 66 67 63 
			 2004 77 73 84 26 31 40 70 70 62 
			 2005 79 74 85 26 30 44 74 71 65 
			 2006 80 75 85 32 32 43 73 75 68 
			 2007(3) 80 76 87 32 32 45 75 75 70 
		
	
	
		
			  Key  s tage 2 and  k ey  s tage 3 results for England since 1997 
			   Key  s tage 2  Key  s tage 3 
			   Percentage of pupils achieving  l evel 4 or above  Percentage of pupils achieving  l evel 5 or above( 1,2)  Percentage achieving of pupils  l evel 5 or above 
			   English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science  English  Mathematics  Science 
			 1997 63 62 69 16 18 19 57 60 60 
			 1998 65 59 69 17 17 16 65 59 56 
			 1999 71 69 78 22 24 27 64 62 55 
			 2000 75 72 85 29 25 34 64 65 59 
			 2001 75 71 87 29 25 34 65 66 66 
			 2002 75 73 86 29 28 38 67 67 67 
			 2003 75 73 87 27 29 41 69 71 68 
			 2004 78 74 86 27 31 43 71 73 66 
			 2005 79 75 86 27 31 47 74 74 70 
			 2006 79 76 87 32 33 46 73 77 72 
			 2007(3) 80 77 88 34 32 46 74 76 73 
			 (1) After 2002 this is referred to as Percentage of pupils achieving Level 5. (2) Figures for level 5 or above are not available prior to 2000. (3) Revised figures. (4) Not published.  Notes: Only includes LA maintained schools whose key stage 2 and key stage 3 results were published in the achievement and attainment tables. Including academies (new schools) and former City Technology colleges that have converted to academies

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in maintained schools in England were entered for  (a) the IGCSE,  (b) the International Baccalaureate and  (c) the Cambridge Pre-U examination in the last period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 717 students in maintained schools (excluding colleges) were entered for the International Baccalaureate. If sixth form and general FE colleges are included, this figure rises to 1,068.
	International GCSEs are not accredited qualifications and so the Department does not hold information on the pupils that are entered for them. Crucially, the IGCSE does not meet the requirements of the statutory national curriculum and so no maintained schools should be entering their pupils for this qualification.
	The Cambridge Pre-U examination is a new qualification for which teaching starts in September 2008. The first qualifications of this nature will be awarded in 2010.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to decide on the extension of the single level tests to all schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Single level tests are one of the elements of the Making Good Progress pilot, which is a two year pilot in over 450 schools running from September 2007 until July 2009.
	The Children's Plan made clear that whilst our intention is to implement single-level tests on a national basis at the earliest opportunity, any decision to do so will be subject to positive evaluation from the pilot, and to endorsement of this approach from the regulator.
	The pilot is being independently evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a final evaluation report is due in autumn 2009.

Extended Schools: Fees and Charges

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department collates on the  (a) charging policies for extended school services and  (b) the proportion of parents paying for (i) out of school services and (ii) holiday schemes through child care tax credit.

Beverley Hughes: None of this information is collected centrally. The Department has issued guidance on planning and funding extended schools, including advice about charging for activities, making clear what can and cannot be charged for. It is for schools to decide what polices to put in place. Information about the use of the child care tax credit is not broken down to this level.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children gained five or more GCSEs at grade C and above in the Peterborough City Council area in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 56.3 per cent. of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in the city of Peterborough achieved five or more GCSE or equivalents at grades A* - C.
	This information is taken from table 18 of the SFR, GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07 (Revised), published in January 2008 and is available at the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml

Higher Education: Admissions

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what programmes operating in the London borough of Bexley his Department has funded to encourage university applications; and how much his Department has spent on such programmes in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to widening participation so that everyone with the potential to benefit from higher education has the opportunity to do so.
	The Aimhigher programme, funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Health, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), brings together universities, colleges and schools in partnership to raise the attainment levels of young people and their aspirations towards higher education. It supports activities such as visits to university, summer schools and mentoring schemes. In the 2007-08 academic year, Aspire, the Aimhigher partnership for London South East (which includes Bexley), is receiving 2.554 million. It is not possible to identify the amount spent specifically in Bexley.
	In addition, universities have their own outreach programmes, some of which operate locally, whilst others extend across the country. Universities charging higher level fees have agreements with the Office for Fair Access concerning the additional support they will offer young people from poorer families, together with additional outreach.

National College for School Leadership

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which hon. Members have been invited to visit the National College for School Leadership since its inception.

Jim Knight: During the early set-up years of the National College for School Leadership, between 2002 and 2005, a public relations campaign was undertaken, under the leadership of its first chief executive, to raise its profile. Invitations to visit the college were sent to the following hon. Members:
	Ian Cawsey
	Tim Collins
	Vernon Coaker
	Valerie Davey
	David Drew
	Damian Green
	Mark Hoban
	Geoffrey Robinson
	Barry Sheerman
	Phil Willis
	Tim Yeo
	Since 2006, the hon. Member for Nottingham North, (Mr. Allen) in whose constituency the college is located, and the hon. Member for Huddersfield, (Mr. Sheerman) have been invited to visit. Since the college's inception, invitations have also been extended to hon. Members in ministerial posts in the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessors.

Playing Fields: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of schools in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Staffordshire have disposed of playing fields since 1998.

Kevin Brennan: Since 1998 the proportion of schools which have had applications approved to dispose of school playing fields in  (a) the West Midlands is less than 1 per cent. and  (b) Staffordshire is also less than 1 per cent.

Pupils: Hearing Impairment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues on assessing the ability of deaf children in examination in subjects where a listening component is generally required; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not issue guidance on detailed issues relating to examinations; it is for the qualifications regulators and the awarding bodies to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made, in the light of their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act. The Joint Council for Qualifications issues advice on access arrangements on behalf of awarding bodies.
	The Government have made clear that the content and curriculum of qualifications should offer all candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding and display their strengths. When other reasonable adjustments have been considered but cannot be made, we would therefore expect the practice of exemptions from parts of an assessment, and the resulting enhancements of grades to continue.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Information Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many press officers the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority employed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Since 2003, QCA has employed the following number of press officers in each year:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 4 
			 2008 3 
			  Note: No figures are available prior to 2003. 
		
	
	In addition, in 2008 the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator employs two press officers.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Information Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the budget of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's press office was in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The QCA budget for press office operations, excluding staffing, was as follows, in each year since 2002:
	
		
			
			 2002-03 99,404 
			 2003-04 82,326 
			 2004-05 49,662 
			 2005-06 63,394 
			 2006-07 46,720 
			 2007-08 87,561 
		
	
	The information is not available for 2001-02.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) staff who will  (a) take voluntary redundancy and  (b) move to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator when the QCA is disbanded;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount of compensation being paid to Qualifications and Curriculum Authority staff who are  (a) taking voluntary redundancy and  (b) moving to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government plan to legislate in the 2008-09 session to establish the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), which will be based in Coventry. Ofqual will have about 125 staff, many of whom will transfer from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The QCA will not be disbanded but will evolve into a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency, which will also be based in Coventry.
	As a result of the relocation, rather than the creation of Ofqual, QCA currently expects about 300 QCA and Ofqual staff to take voluntary redundancy. Staff will confirm their preferences for relocation, redeployment or redundancy in the autumn.
	QCA estimates that 15.5 million will be paid to QCA staff who take voluntary redundancy as a result of its relocation to Coventry. No compensation will be paid to QCA staff who transfer to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Qualifications and Curriculum Authority staff have  (a) been made voluntarily redundant,  (b) taken early retirement and  (c) resigned in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following numbers of QCA staff have  (a) been made voluntarily redundant,  (b) taken retirement and  (c) resigned in each year since 2001:
	
		
			   Redundancy  Retirement  Resigned 
			 2001-02 1 0 51 
			 2002-03 2 0 71 
			 2003-04 19 3 74 
			 2004-05 24 5 51 
			 2005-06 16 6 64 
			 2006-07 119 5 46 
			 2007-08 28 2 41 
		
	
	QCA does not distinguish between early retirement and other retirement.

Schools: Asbestos

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of schools have had asbestos in their buildings in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent steps his Department has taken to remove asbestos from schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The majority of the many domestic and non-domestic buildings in England are likely to contain asbestos. In this schools are no different. Our best estimate is that some asbestos-containing materials can be found in around 70 per cent. of school buildings.
	Health and Safety Executive guidance is clear that if asbestos is unlikely to be disturbed or damaged, it is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it. Routine condition surveys are rigorous enough to identify damaged material that could contain asbestos, and this would then trigger further action such as intrusive surveys and the repair or removal of any asbestos-containing materials.
	Detailed information about the incidence of asbestos in schools is not collected centrally. Local authorities are responsible for school buildings under their management. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 place a duty on those with legal responsibilities for maintenance of buildings to manage the risk from asbestos. This includes assessing whether there is asbestos in buildings and, depending on its condition, removing it or managing it.
	The HSE provides advice and guidance on the management of asbestos in schools.

Schools: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidelines his Department has issued to local authorities on the allocation of dedicated schools grant funding.

Jim Knight: The methodology underlying the allocation of DSG to individual local authorities can be found in the DSG Technical Note 2008-11 at:
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/dsg200811/
	This methodology has been used to make allocations for the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	Local authorities retain responsibility for setting the overall level of the Individual Schools Budget and for determining schools' budget shares, subject to the School Finance (England) Regulations 2008.
	Each local authority's scheme for financing schools must contain a provision which sets out the frequency with which the budget share will be made available to governing bodies.
	Local authorities will need to decide what level of contingency to establish within their central expenditure to allow relevant data changes to take effect within a financial year and meet any exceptional and unplanned cost pressures that may arise.

Schools: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the total financial allocation per pupil was in each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in Hemsworth constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Hemsworth constituency is not available, as it forms part of the Wakefield local authority. The revenue funding allocated by Wakefield local authority to each maintained primary and secondary school is included in the following table.
	
		
			  Total budget share plus grants( ,)  per pupil allocated to local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in the Wakefield local authority from 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			Total budget share plus grants per pupil allocated to local authority maintained primary and secondary schools () 
			  School name  DCSF establishment number  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Primary school   
			 Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School 3023 3,180 3,300 3,570 3,830 3,740 
			 Ackworth Mill Dam Junior and Infant School 2201 3,050 3,300 3,410 3,650 3,870 
			 All Saints Featherstone CofE (VA) Junior Infant and Nursery School 3316 2,610 2,870 3,080 3,350 3,380 
			 Ash Grove Junior and Infant School 2190 2,510 2,820 3,140 3,380 3,640 
			 Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School 3022 2,770 2,920 3,150 3,380 3,500 
			 Bell Lane Primary (J and I) School 2202 2,440 2,650 2,800 3,000 3,200 
			 Crofton Infant School 2040 3,000 3,210 3,430 3,740 3,760 
			 Crofton Junior School 2039 2,420 2,700 2,910 3,110 3,280 
			 Featherstone Girnhill Infant School 2088 3,600 3,970 4,230 4,660 4,830 
			 Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School 2150 2,520 2,760 3,000 3,200 3,380 
			 Featherstone Purston Infant School 2133 2,720 3,030 3,370 3,650 3,860 
			 Featherstone Purston St. Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School 3018 2,310 2,670 3,000 3,300 3,450 
			 Featherstone Streethouse Junior Infant Nursery and Resources for Pupils with Physical Difficulties 2128 3,360 3,880 4,210 4,630 4,840 
			 Fitzwilliam Primary School 2197 2,850 3,250 3,470 3,690 3,860 
			 Havercroft Junior Infant and Nursery School 2194 2,660 3,070 3,350 3,730 3,850 
			 Hemsworth Grove Lea Primary School 2199 2,520 2,870 3,060 3,200 3,300 
			 Hemsworth St. Helens Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School 3340 2,700 3,200 3,510 3,890 3,990 
			 Hemsworth West End Primary School 2200 2,640 2,940 3,310 3,700 3,810 
			 Infant School Moorthorpe Primary (J and I) School 2192 2,720 3,050 3,250 3,710 3,780 
			 Kinsley Primary (J and I) School 2198 2,830 3,280 3,540 3,840 4,150 
			 Northfield Primary School: with Autism Resource 2189 2,760 3,060 3,300 3,600 3,700 
			 Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School 2195 2,890 3,200 3,480 3,770 3,920 
			 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 3329 3,080 3,510 3,880 4,270 4,290 
			 Sandal Endowed Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School 3339 2,360 2,640 2,950 3,240 3,380 
			 Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School 2203 2,760 3,040 3,130 3,330 3,560 
			 South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School 2191 2,520 2,780 3,110 3,390 3,650 
			 South Hiendley Junior Infant and Early Years School 2196 2,780 3,150 3,290 3,600 3,800 
			 South Kirkby Burntwood Junior and Infant School 2188 3,830 4,320 4,580 4,810 5,070 
			 South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School 2186 3,260 3,450 3,730 3,930 3,990 
			 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe 3335 2,730 3,020 3,190 3,370 3,500 
			 Standbridge Primary School 2157 3,280 3,760 3,850 4,180 4,510 
			 Stockingate Mill Junior School 2187 2,700 3,010 3,240 3,610 3,780 
			 Upton Primary School 2193 2,360 2,600 . 2,830 3,050 3,220 
			 Wakefield Castle Grove Infant School 2164 2,730 3,030 3,160 3,460 3,580 
			 Wakefield Hendal Primary School 2162 2,830 3,090 3,340 3,550 3,580 
			 Walton Grove Infant School 2132 3,130 3,360 3,610   
			 Walton Junior School 2083 2,480 2,690 2,980   
			 Walton Primary School 33423,110 3,250 
			
			  Secondary school   
			 Crofton High SchoolSpecialists in Maths and Computing 4029 2,900 3,170 3,650 3,920 4,330 
			 Featherstone Technology College 4042 3,220 3,480 4,130 4,780 5,180 
			 Hemsworth Arts and Community College 4016 3,070 3,310 4,110 4,200 4,640 
			 Kettlethorpe High School, A Specialist Maths and Computing College 4006 2,890 3,120 3,610 3,890 4,270 
			 Minsthorpe Community College, A Specialist Science College 4030 3,060 3,270 3,800 4,000 4,530 
			 St. Thomas a Becket Catholic College Specialist status in Humanities 4800 2,970 3,220 3,670 3,840 4,210 
			 St. Wilfrid's Catholic High School and Sixth Form College 4604 3,050 3,320 3,820 3,980 4,530

Schools: Medical Equipment

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether requirements are placed on schools to have defibrillators on their premises and individuals trained to use them.

Jim Knight: The Department does not place requirements on schools to have defibrillators on their premises and individuals trained to use them.

Schools: Safety

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the risks to children's health and safety posed by fallen leaves from monkey puzzle trees in or close to schools.

Jim Knight: The Department has made no assessment of any risk posed by monkey puzzle trees in or close to schools.

Science: Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many mainstream maintained secondary schools entered one or more pupils for a GCSE in  (a) biology,  (b) chemistry and  (c) physics in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many mainstream maintained secondary schools offer three separate sciences at GCSE level.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 1,177 of the 3,200 maintained mainstream schools entered a pupil for GCSE Biology, 1,101 entered one for Chemistry and 1,092 entered one for Physics.
	The Department does not hold information on schools that offer particular subjects at CSEonly on those that enter pupils. In 2007, 1,057 maintained mainstream schools entered at least one pupil for each of the three separate sciences at GCSE.

Specialised Diplomas

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times he has met the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to discuss the new diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds since July 2007.

Kevin Brennan: The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has regular meetings with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to discuss a range of issues including diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Specialised Diplomas: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor has spent on developing the online assessment system required for the new diplomas in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There is no online assessment system for diplomas, but the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been developing an IT-based Diploma Aggregation Service to aggregate component results and enable the awarding of the qualifications.
	The QCA has spent the following amounts in each year since 2005 on developing the Diploma Aggregation Service:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 4.1 
			 2007-08 10.2

Specialist Schools

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many high- performing specialist schools he estimates will lose that status as a result of the changes made to the designation criteria for such schools in March 2008;
	(2)  what the reasons were for the changes to the criteria used to award High Performing Specialist School status announced in March 2008.

Jim Knight: We estimate that as at the end of April 2008, the changes to the criteria for High Performing Specialist Schools (HPSS) introduced this year impact on six existing HPSS. These schools still have the opportunity to maintain the status if their 2008 results are above the necessary threshold.
	We maintained the fundamental aspects of the 2007 criteria but raised minimum requirements for GCSE 5+ A* - C including English and mathematics. The reasons for these changes were: to reflect the introduction of the National Challenge, ensure that the top third of re-designated schools qualify for the HPSS programme and make the best use of available resources.

Students: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students received Learning and Skills Council funding in North Yorkshire in each of last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Details of student numbers receiving funding from the Learning and Skills Council at the level requested is not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC as they determine these matters after discussions with local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Lady with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Male Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) primary school and  (b) secondary school teachers were male in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on the proportion of teachers by gender is available from the Database of Teacher Records which is collected primarily for pensions administration purposes. Figures from this source are not considered sufficiently reliable to publish at the local authority level.
	The information requested is available for England and has been published in table D2 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2007 (Revised) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000743/index.shtml.
	The School Workforce Census planned for 2010 will provide more detailed information on the school workforce at local authority level.

Teachers: Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much sick pay was paid to teachers in each of the last five years; what proportion of staffing expenditure on teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many teachers have received sick pay for sick leave due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what the average length of time sick pay was paid to a teacher in these circumstances in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many teachers have taken sick leave due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of serving teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many days of sick leave were taken by teachers due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last five years; what proportion of sick days taken by teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by teachers was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what the average duration was of single periods of sick leave taken by teachers who gave  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information for the number of full-time and part-time teachers taking sickness absence and the total number of days taken by length of absence is collected by the Department. The information available has been published in table 14 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2007 (Revised) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000743/index.shtml.
	A provisional summary for the calendar year 2007 has been published in table 13 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2008 (Provisional) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000787/index.shtml.

Teaching Methods

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to implement one-to-one tuition as provided under the Making Good Progress pilots in areas with high levels of educational under-achievement.

Jim Knight: The Government are already committed to the delivery of national one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English and 300,000 pupils in mathematics by 2010-11. National implementation of one-to-one tuition across the country, including in areas with high levels of educational under-achievement, will begin in 2009-10.
	We are also developing plans to provide additional support and flexibility for one-to-one tuition in National Challenge schools: schools where less than 30 per cent. of pupils get five or more A*-C GCSEs, including English and mathematics. This will enable those schools to extend the tuition being trialled in the Making Good Progress pilot to pupils in key stage 4.
	Tuition in the Making Good Progress pilot is offered to pupils according to educational need and targeted at a pupil's specific learning gaps as identified by their class teacher. Lessons learned from the Making Good Progress pilot will inform the design of the national tuition programme.

Teaching Methods: Voluntary Organisations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what role his Department sees for the third sector in meeting the target of one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English by 2010-11.

Jim Knight: Currently there are no formal plans for the third sector to deliver one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English by 2010-11.
	Within the Making Good Progress pilot, volunteers provide additional tuition to those pupils who have already received ten hours of one-to-one tuition in English and/or mathematics.
	Volunteers are recruited through Community Service Volunteers's retired and senior volunteers programme (RSVP), and come from a range of backgrounds, including ex-teachers and head teachers. However, the model of one-to-one tuition within the Making Good Progress pilot currently uses qualified teachers only.
	Lessons learned from the Making Good Progress pilot will inform the design of the national tuition programme, including the use of the third sector.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families who is conducting the review of the UK's reservation against Article 37(c) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and when the review will be published.

Beverley Hughes: The review has been conducted by officials from the Joint Youth Justice Unit and the Ministry of Justice, to enable Ministers with responsibility for youth justice in England and Wales to decide whether or not the reservation remains relevant to the secure estate for children and young people in England and Wales. The officials' advice includes legal advice: in accordance with normal practice, we are not planning to publish it. The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Delyn, (Mr. Hanson), and I will announce our conclusion in due course.
	The reservation against Article 37(c) applies to the United Kingdom as a whole. Any decision to withdraw it would also require agreement from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what reservations the UK has entered to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols; and which of those reservations are under review by the Government.

Beverley Hughes: The Government currently hold two reservations to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The reservations are against article 22 and article 37(C). The Government are currently reviewing both reservations. The Government have no reservations against the Convention's optional protocols.

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what grants were made to Westminster City Council by his Department in each year since 2000-01.

Jim Knight: Revenue grant figures for Westminster local authority for the years 2000-01 to 2005-06 are provided in the following table. Figures are in real terms. The main source of revenue funding for years 2000-01 to 2002-03 was made up of the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) and for years 2003-04 to 2005-06 the Education Formula Share (EFS). Other revenue grants provided in the years 2000-01 to 2005-06 include the following; Nursery Education Grant (NEG), Class Sized Grant, Large Education Action Zones Grant (EAZ), Standards Fund (SF), Budget Support Grants (BSG), Teachers Pay Reform Grants (TGP), School Standards Grant (SSG) and funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). These grants were not available in all years; the notes provided with the table outline specifically which of these other grants were provided in each individual year.
	
		
			  Westminster  local authority 
			   million 
			   SSA/EFS  Other Grants  Total 
			 2000-01 83.0 10.0 92.9 
			 2001-02 84.8 12.6 97.3 
			 2002-03 81.8 21.5 103.2 
			 2003-04 88.1 22.9 110.9 
			 2004-05 93.0 23.4 116.4 
			 2005-06 98.2 23.1 121.3 
			  Notes: 1. Grant Coverage: SSA2000-01 to 2002-03 EFS2003-04 to 2005-06 NEG2000-01 to 2002-03 Class Size2000-01 to 2002-03 TGP2000-01 to 2005-06 BSG2000-01 to 2005-06 SSG2000-01 to 2005-06 EA22000-01 to 2004-05 SF2001-02 to 2005-06 LSC2002-03 to 2005-06 2. Price Base: Real terms as at 2006-07, based on GDP deflators as at 26.09.07 3. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Education Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council. 4. The 'Other Grants' figure includes all revenue grants in DFES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19. 5. These exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 6. Rounding: The EFS, Other Grants and Total figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million 
		
	
	The figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with the 2000-01 to 2005-06 figures quoted because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. This change does not affect the comparability of the other non-DSG grants identified above, although there are some year-on-year changes in terms of what grants were provided.
	The 2000-01 to 2005-06 figures quoted above are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS), which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage from EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement, but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department has isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06. This is the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted; as described this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. The grants associated with the 2005-06 DSG baseline are the same as those given with the EFS figure above: Standards Fund, Budget Support Grant, Transitional Support Grant, School Standards Grant and LSC funding.
	Revenue funding from the DSG, Standards Fund, School Standards Grant, Schools Standards Grant (Personalisation) and the Learning and Skills Council for years 2006-07 to 2007-08 for Westminster local authority are provided in the following table along with the comparable figures based on the 2005-06 DSG baseline. The figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19 and are in real terms.
	
		
			  Westminster Local Authority 
			   million 
			   DSG  Other Grants  Total 
			 2005-06 82.4 23.3 105.7 
			 2006-07 86.0 23.6 109.6 
			 2007-08 86.8 23.7 110.5 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Real terms as at 2006-07, based on GDP deflators as at 26.09.07  3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19 4. DSG, Other Grants and Total figures have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 million. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

Work Experience

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 419W, on work experience, how much schools have spent on education business partnership organisations in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Education business partnership organisations are funded via the LSC, with 25 million for 2007-08, to provide the supply of employers necessary to support work-related learning, including work experience placements. The figures for previous years were:
	
		
			
			 2001-02 29,273,000 
			 2002-03 32,312,000 
			 2003-04 35,320,000 
			 2004-05 6,134,000 
			 2005-06 31,076,000 
			 2006-07 25,668,000 
		
	
	Schools and colleges can choose to spend elements of their own funding on the services they provide over and above that distributed by the LSC. Most schools and colleges will pay for some of the costs incurred by education business partnership organisations in delivering their services, for example, to carry out health and safety risk assessments. However, there is no centrally held data about how much this amounts to.

Young People: Mothers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of teenage mothers aged under 18 years were in  (a) paid employment and  (b) full-time education in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many teenage mothers attended schools at which more than 50 per cent. of the pupils were entitled to free school meals in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of teenage mothers were entitled to free school meals in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many girls in their last year of compulsory schooling who were mothers did not sit any GCSE examination in each year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Youth in Action Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what EU Youth in Action programmes are in operation in England.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1911W. The EU Youth in Action Programme has five separate activities which are Youth for Europe, European Voluntary Service, Youth in the World, Youth Support Measures, and European Co-operation in the Youth Field.

Youth Services: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided for each London borough to support the provision of youth services in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 1999-2000.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not set a budget for spending on youth services. Local authorities receive funding from Government through the revenue support grant for youth services, but it is up to them to decide how much funding should be spent based on government priorities and local needs.
	The following tables set out how much each local authority in London has budgeted for youth services in each year since 1999-2000.
	The figures for 2008-09 are still undergoing validation by the DCSF and as such remain highly provisional and subject to change
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations - Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities  on youth services( 1) : 1999-2000 to 2008-09( 2, 3) , cash terms figures( 3, 4)  as reported by local authorities as at 25  J une 2008 
			   cash terms 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			  London LAs 51,317,469 57,569,841 64,770,072 65,838,535 67,393,083 
			
			 201 City of London 181,700 279,600 135,800 126,800 142,100 
			 202 Camden 2,033,000 2,208,637 2,311,433 2,364,272 2,301,702 
			 203 Greenwich 2,088,000 2,502,118 2,596,840 2,746,080 3,042,580 
			 204 Hackney 5,569,700 1,206,420 0 0 1,076,530 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 748,071 1,103,726 877,725 1,180,726 
			 206 Islington 409,430 5,983,442 5,558,808 6,211,496 3,159,950 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 3,872,000 3,926,608 3,604,598 3,782,515 3,698,300 
			 208 Lambeth 1,815,000 1,932,426 5,554,009 3,190,045 3,601,542 
			 209 Lewisham 1,472,010 2,716,231 2,919,891 2,735,412 2,969,900 
			 210 Southwark 2,551,000 2,823,000 2,893,000 3,054,009 3,341,705 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 3,550,500 4,195,200 4,386,983 4,829,739 4,814,717 
			 212 Wandsworth 0 0 2,978,270 3,160,400 3,208,580 
			 213 Westminster 1,699,000 1,728,825 1,770,400 2,001,500 1,941,900 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,125,000 966,000 898,430 911,710 1,078,240 
			 302 Barnet 2,230,000 2,261,342 1,829,061 2,302,465 1,797,612 
			 303 Bexley 1,607,000 1,576,000 1,630,000 1,898,000 1,944,000 
			 304 Brent 2,149,000 2,185,000 2,078,000 2,185,000 1,636,000 
			 305 Bromley 1,046,000 1,124,977 1,119,930 1,073,402 1,110,838 
			 306 Croydon 2,308,790 2,515,605 2,607,705 3,423,407 3,576,851 
			 307 Ealing 1,664,600 1,529,700 1,551,000 1,514,600 1,648,800 
			 308 Enfield 999,000 986,108 1,052,333 1,121,647 1,355,382 
			 309 Haringey 1,353,000 1,500,720 1,896,400 1,967,279 2,096,722 
			 310 Harrow 670,000 769,628 995,043 783,387 886,405 
			 311 Havering 1,272,000 1,329,175 1,252,847 1,332,340 1,794,770 
			 312 Hillingdon 1,418,000 1,446,973 1,473,203 1,777,011 2,132,885 
			 313 Hounslow 727,500 748,000 768,600 829,184 819,840 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 709,000 761,458 977,354 1,001,764 1,089,975 
			 315 Merton 534,160 552,277 575,729 605,730 806,830 
			 316 Newham 1,119,000 1,209,872 1,386,727 1,526,181 3,185,100 
			 317 Redbridge 1,425,000 1,620,371 1,769,916 2,020,451 2,003,813 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 701,000 751,200 646,500 693,800 698,700 
			 319 Sutton 1,391,000 1,389,457 1,534,856 1,727,348 1,295,068 
			 320 Waltham Forest 1,627,079 2,095,400 2,912,680 2,063,836 1,955,020 
		
	
	
		
			   cash terms 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  London LAs 65,839,152 69,415,404 73,331,848 74,091,963 86,421,924 
			
			 201 City of London 171,600 231,700 256,700 304,900 247,700 
			 202 Camden 2,336,214 2,466,522 2,629,912 2,595,115 3,965,941 
			 203 Greenwich 3,194,050 3,397,015 3,395,190 3,179,480 4,000,039 
			 204 Hackney 1,169,314 1,502,948 2,453,680 2,802,748 2,834,026 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,214,721 1,316,821 1,363,648 1,405,502 1,447,462 
			 206 Islington 3,349,528 3,300,600 2,685,981 2,398,040 2,955,890 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 1,969,635 1,924,650 2,425,020 3,074,750 3,489,130 
			 208 Lambeth 1,899,076 1,800,865 1,898,060 2,189,531 2,655,278 
			 209 Lewisham 3,286,713 3,480,639 3,598,210 3,503,698 3,766,323 
			 210 Southwark 4,173,125 3,733,916 3,678,265 3,956,305 3,575,586 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,161,299 4,575,670 4,561,005 4,655,822 4,825,619 
			 212 Wandsworth 3,313,410 2,946,640 3,098,440 3,274,330 3,287,338 
			 213 Westminster 2,261,400 2,586,100 2,789,300 2,504,300 3,073,895 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,180,670 1,182,262 1,242,085 1,370,048 1,285,298 
			 302 Barnet 1,525,781 1,261,563 1,368,685 1,485,016 1,745,380 
			 303 Bexley 2,134,000 2,208,000 2,071,000 1,963,000 2,002,000 
			 304 Brent 1,965,000 2,193,000 2,499,000 2,646,000 2,689,000 
			 305 Bromley 1,152,701 1,178,995 1,395,682 1,447,101 1,610,782 
			 306 Croydon 2,634,557 2,854,359 3,919,337 3,581,122 3,827,756 
			 307 Ealing 1,645,900 1,694,000 1,657,400 1,868,267 2,034,817 
			 308 Enfield 1,440,161 1,518,136 1,648,564 2,023,600 2,356,094 
			 309 Haringey 1,959,700 2,053,807 2,191,157 1,859,839 1,936,960 
			 310 Harrow 1,165,235 1,672,821 1,692,362 1,515,032 1,567,760 
			 311 Havering 1,855,085 1,972,350 1,882,990 1,973,670 4,612,120 
			 312 Hillingdon 2,284,148 3,072,659 3,127,453 2,005,070 2,253,644 
			 313 Hounslow 871,978 1,326,274 1,316,672 1,318,405 2,107,125 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 1,223,955 1,205,955 1,254,041 1,323,694 1,434,626 
			 315 Merton 809,020 847,028 1,045,973 1,188,494 1,299,420 
			 316 Newham 3,365,787 3,312,363 3,390,586 3,465,087 5,932,663 
			 317 Redbridge 1,905,448 1,971,531 2,033,948 2,194,841 2,323,512 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 736,700 950,500 1,078,000 1,407,100 1,399,813 
			 319 Sutton 1,328,881 1,343,675 1,371,702 1,281,856 1,363,760 
			 320 Waltham Forest 2,154,360 2,332,040 2,311,800 2,330,200 2,515,168 
		
	
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations - Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) : 1999-00 to 2008-09( 2, 3) , real terms figures( 3,4)  as reported by local authorities as at 25 June 2008 
			   r eal terms (2006-07 prices) 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			  London LAs 60,997,099 67,468,084 74,132,232 73,068,681 72,687,652 
			
			 201 City of London 215,973 327,673 155,429 140,725 153,264 
			 202 Camden 2,416,470 2,588,378 2,645,538 2,623,908 2,482,529 
			 203 Greenwich 2,481,844 2,932,318 2,972,199 3,047,644 3,281,613 
			 204 Hackney 6,620,271 1,413,845 0 0 1,161,105 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 876,690 1,263,264 974,114 1,273,487 
			 206 Islington 486,658 7,012,202 6,362,303 6,893,620 3,408,204 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 4,602,346 4,601,727 4,125,623 4,197,897 3,988,848 
			 208 Lambeth 2,157,350 2,264,677 6,356,811 3,540,364 3,884,488 
			 209 Lewisham 1,749,664 3,183,245 3,341,945 3,035,805 3,203,223 
			 210 Southwark 3,032,176 3,308,371 3,311,167 3,389,389 3,604,238 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,220,204 4,916,500 5,021,097 5,360,123 5,192,973 
			 212 Wandsworth 0 0 3,408,763 3,507,464 3,460,654 
			 213 Westminster 2,019,470 2,026,070 2,026,302 2,221,297 2,094,461 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,337,200 1,132,089 1,028,293 1,011,831 1,162,949 
			 302 Barnet 2,650,628 2,650,145 2,093,442 2,555,313 1,938,837 
			 303 Bexley 1,910,116 1,846,969 1,865,608 2,106,431 2,096,725 
			 304 Brent 2,554,350 2,560,677 2,378,364 2,424,949 1,764,528 
			 305 Bromley 1,243,299 1,318,399 1,281,810 1,191,279 1,198,108 
			 306 Croydon 2,744,280 2,948,124 2,984,634 3,799,353 3,857,857 
			 307 Ealing 1,978,581 1,792,708 1,775,189 1,680,928 1,778,334 
			 308 Enfield 1,187,434 1,155,654 1,204,442 1,244,822 1,461,864 
			 309 Haringey 1,608,206 1,758,746 2,170,514 2,183,318 2,261,446 
			 310 Harrow 796,377 901,954 1,138,871 869,416 956,043 
			 311 Havering 1,511,928 1,557,706 1,433,939 1,478,653 1,935,772 
			 312 Hillingdon 1,685,467 1,695,758 1,686,146 1,972,156 2,300,450 
			 313 Hounslow 864,723 876,607 879,697 920,242 884,249 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 842,733 892,379 1,118,625 1,111,774 1,175,606 
			 315 Merton 634,915 647,232 658,947 672,249 870,217 
			 316 Newham 1,330,069 1,417,891 1,587,171 1,693,781 3,435,329 
			 317 Redbridge 1,693,787 1,898,969 2,025,748 2,242,330 2,161,238 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 833,224 880,357 739,948 769,991 753,592 
			 319 Sutton 1,653,374 1,628,353 1,756,711 1,917,039 1,396,812 
			 320 Waltham Forest 1,933,983 2,455,672 3,333,692 2,290,479 2,108,611 
		
	
	
		
			   r eal terms (2006-07 prices) 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  London LAs 69,102,881 71,320,371 73,331,848 71,759,770 81,263,710 
			
			 201 City of London 180,106 238,059 256,700 295,303 232,916 
			 202 Camden 2,452,023 2,534,211 2,629,912 2,513,429 3,729,228 
			 203 Greenwich 3,352,383 3,490,239 3,395,190 3,079,400 3,761,291 
			 204 Hackney 1,227,278 1,544,193 2,453,680 2,714,526 2,664,873 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,274,936 1,352,959 1,363,648 1,361,261 1,361,068 
			 206 Islington 3,515,568 3,391,178 2,685,981 2,322,557 2,779,464 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 2,067,272 1,977,468 2,425,020 2,977,966 3,280,876 
			 208 Lambeth 1,993,216 1,850,286 1,898,060 2,120,611 2,496,794 
			 209 Lewisham 3,449,639 3,576,158 3,598,210 3,393,412 3,541,525 
			 210 Southwark 4,379,992 3,836,386 3,678,265 3,831,772 3,362,172 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,367,580 4,701,240 4,561,005 4,509,271 4,537,595 
			 212 Wandsworth 3,477,660 3,027,505 3,098,440 3,171,264 3,091,129 
			 213 Westminster 2,373,500 2,657,070 2,789,300 2,425,472 2,890,425 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,239,197 1,214,707 1,242,085 1,326,923 1,208,583 
			 302 Barnet 1,601,416 1,296,184 1,368,685 1,438,272 1,641,205 
			 303 Bexley 2,239,785 2,268,594 2,071,000 1,901,211 1,882,508 
			 304 Brent 2,062,408 2,253,183 2,499,000 2,562,712 2,528,503 
			 305 Bromley 1,209,842 1,211,350 1,395,682 1,401,551 1,514,640 
			 306 Croydon 2,765,155 2,932,691 3,919,337 3,468,399 3,599,291 
			 307 Ealing 1,727,489 1,740,488 1,657,400 1,809,460 1,913,366 
			 308 Enfield 1,511,552 1,559,798 1,648,564 1,959,903 2,215,467 
			 309 Haringey 2,056,845 2,110,170 2,191,157 1,801,297 1,821,350 
			 310 Harrow 1,222,997 1,718,728 1,692,362 1,467,343 1,474,186 
			 311 Havering 1,947,044 2,026,477 1,882,990 1,911,545 4,336,839 
			 312 Hillingdon 2,397,376 3,156,982 3,127,453 1,941,956 2,119,132 
			 313 Hounslow 915,203 1,362,671 1,316,672 1,276,906 1,981,358 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 1,284,628 1,239,050 1,254,041 1,282,028 1,348,998 
			 315 Merton 849,124 870,273 1,045,973 1,151,084 1,221,862 
			 316 Newham 3,532,633 3,403,264 3,390,586 3,356,016 5,578,564 
			 317 Redbridge 1,999,903 2,025,636 2,033,948 2,125,754 2,184,830 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 773,219 976,585 1,078,000 1,362,809 1,316,263 
			 319 Sutton 1,394,755 1,380,549 1,371,702 1,241,507 1,282,362 
			 320 Waltham Forest 2,261,154 2,396,038 2,311,800 2,256,852 2,365,047 
			 (1) Youth service includes the following items of planned expenditure on the Youth Service and youth work: Employees Staff Training Premises related expenditure Transport related expenditure Supplies and services Third-party payments Support services Youth work costs at residential and non-residential youth centres Youth work costs at activity at outdoor and urban studies centres Grant funding to the voluntary sector for youth work. (2) The 2001-02 and 2002-03 figures also include any Local Authority Youth Service provision that contributed to the delivery of the Connexions Service plus any Connexions Service specific funding. (3) 2008-09 data remains highly provisional and subject to change by the local authority. (4) Cash terms figures are converted to real terms (2006-07 prices) using the March 2008 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflators.